SOCIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT
Because it is
based on democratic foundations and freedom of membership, the economy
social has never
been confined only to vulnerable audiences but aims to
meet all societal
needs.
The societal
dimension and the potential of the social economy movement are pushing
its companies to
be on the front line to respond to the problems posed by our societies
modern:
- On the one
hand, social economy enterprises are supply structures
innovative in
many areas, in line with societal needs
in the
territories, most often even upstream of the request of local, regional and
state authorities.
- On the other
hand, companies in the social economy have a capacity for important answers on
social questions. For example, they
provide many
services to individuals and families, including
in the form of
local services for dependent people (not
necessarily
elderly) or for people with disabilities.
- Finally, they
are able to respond to social needs in the face of State disengagement or
social emergency in crisis situations which
affect the most
vulnerable people.
Many of these
activities are carried out in the framework of plural partnerships which may
involve not only the public authorities, but also other enterprises in the
social economy. When it comes to personal services, they very frequently come
into the
framework of what
is qualified, at European level, as "services of general interest".
In terms of
employment, social economy enterprises promote the possibility of "
to undertake”
both for highly qualified people and for people with less
well-trained but
who have solid professional experience. Companies
the social economy
attracts an audience ranging from "young" graduates of best school to
entrepreneurs
from all walks of life, concerned about a more responsible economy, eager to
invest in people