Modeling Active Social Programs in Bulgaria through Social Entrepreneurship Encouragement

Abstract

In contemporary society one of the priorities for development is to assure social inclusion and equality through provision of employment opportunities and increasing incomes by the active involvement of citizens in the labor market. Among the specific measures is the encouragement of entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship in particular. Implementation of such active social policies contributes to effective solutions to the problems of poverty and social exclusion. Current study examines social entrepreneurship and social enterprises as an opportunity to build a model of an active social program based on the notion that the most critical to tackling poverty and social exclusion is the application of such social policies that give people access to economic opportunities and knowledge and skills to utilize opportunities - so that they cope with the trap of poverty and social exclusion, dependence on social protection system, vulnerability to the adverse events of economic or social nature.