The initiators of the Partnership for Development TOWARD THE POLISH MODEL OF SOCIAL ECONOMY - WE ARE BUILDING THE NEW LISKÓW are: the Institute of Public Affairs (the managing organisation) www.isp.org.pl, the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland www.filantropia.org.pl, and the Working Community of Associations of Social Organisations www.wrzos.org.pl. The character of this Partnership could be defined as sector and geography-specific.

The project`s objective is to develop and test in practice the model strategy of stimulating local communities to create social enterprises. This strategy is being implemented in local communities of former State-owned Farms (PGR), located in 4 administrative districts [poviats], inhabited in majority by villagers. Such former PGR communities are usually agglomerations of poverty, unemployment, marginalisation and delinquent behaviour. Regular problems in rural areas include poor education and mobility, a low degree of preparation for the market economy, as well as no technical, financial or educational infrastructure. The project is focused on local communities as a whole for the benefit of a future goal: stimulation the communities for social economy. The Partnership undertakes steps to launch 7 enterprises and to help them enter the market. It is necessary to identify potential stakeholders in social enterprises and to analyse their social and educational needs, as well as undertake promotional activities aimed at reaching the local community and potential beneficiaries.

The village of Liskow, near Kalisz, which we commemorate in the name of our Partnership, personifies the successful activation of the local community for the purpose of a greater integration and development. Within less than 20 years a poor village, plagued by different social calamities associated with poverty, was transformed by one co-operative activist - a parish priest - into a dynamic and prosperous community. By motivating and engaging in co-operation his parishioners (and therefore creating the prototype approach, which we now call the strategy of partners intervention) the vicar founded co-operative stores, banks, a dairy co-operative, schools, and a brickyard. The main feature of the economic initiatives in Liskow was their cascade character: one initiative instigated another and another. Liskow is the symbol not only of the tradition of business co-operation, but it is also the symbol of change the social and economic transformations, achieved thanks to the leaders and by joint forces of the local community.

During the first stage (Action 1) of the project, which began in December 2004, a strong and effective structure of the Partnership and an inventory of the resources of social economy in two Polish regions was created. The Partnership consists of 42 national Partners including 3 regional and 39 local Partnerships from the following regions: Bilgoraj, Lublin, Nidzica, Elk. An important task within the project is the cooperation of experts and animators, local institutions, NGOs, business sector, community leaders and persons active in marginalized circles, which organized themselves in the form of Local Committees. Local Committees, supported by experts, play key role in defining the barriers and development potential of local enterprises, activating local community and initiating actions aimed at creating of the social enterprises.
 
The second stage (Action 2) of the project began in July 2005 and includes:

• gathering, analysis and presentation of systematized knowledge concerning resources of social economy in Poland, against good practice in EU member states,

•  increasing the level of social capital around social enterprises and the level of human resources that would enable activation of marginalized groups in communities involved in the project,

• establishment of 7 social enterprises in communities involved in the project and assistance in launching them on the market.