The consequences of the pandemic and the restrictive measures have put the people of Cuba in dire straits.
In Cuba, many activities during the pandemic period had to close or reinvent themselves profoundly to survive, without being able to count on effective government aid.
The blockade of international tourism and the restrictions imposed by the previous US administration, which among other things banned the sending of migrants’ remittances to Cuba in the US, also led to a shortage of international currency and a reduction in imports of even basic necessities.
Today, the population, while receiving a very low salary in local currency on average (about 60 dollars a month), finds itself having to buy, or not buying, basic necessities sold at international market prices.
In addition, subsidies for electricity have been abolished and those for food and basic necessities have been limited.Against this background of great difficulties, last August the local government for the first time allowed Cuban citizens to set up micro, small and medium-sized private enterprises in the form of companies and no longer just as sole proprietorships. An important change and a challenge for which the local business community must be prepared.
In order to accompany the small self-employed to seize the opportunities offered by this transaction, the project aims to provide them with the legal and administrative tools and knowledge suitable for the management of private enterprises.
The pivot of the project will be training for running a business according to the principles of the Economy of Communion and the Economy of Francis.
The ECO Space, which was set up as a place for learning and exchange on these topics, can now be a reference point for all people who have the desire to work on their own and with a vision of the social impact of their activity.
Participants will be able to contribute voluntarily, when the conditions of their respective businesses allow it, to the Reciprocity Fund that has been active there for some years. This fund, to which companies that have embraced the Economy of Communion in Cuba contribute, supports new business initiatives in the start-up phase or at times of particular need.
- Individual technical accompaniment for small entrepreneurial initiatives and already established micro-enterprises, based on a customised needs study;
- customised training on business administration and Economy of Communion;
- training course on the Economy of Francis;
- national meeting of micro-entrepreneurs for a solidarity-based economy;
- regional meetings for skills exchange between micro-entrepreneurs, in presence and at a distance;
- feasibility study of a network marketing activity among participating micro-entrepreneurs;
- publication of training articles on entrepreneurship and the Economy of Communion;
- trade fair open to micro-entrepreneurs.