OREANDA-NEWS. Tele2, an alternative mobile operator, has launched the All-Russia contest of social entrepreneurs held by the Reach of Change foundation for social initiatives to solve childhood problems.

The foundation started its operations in Russia in 2012; however this is the first time when the Reach for Change contest is held on the all-Russia scale. The project is seeking to consolidate efforts of the efficient non-commercial organization and leading Russian companies to support social entrepreneurs helping children. Along with Tele2, other partners of the foundation are Metro newspaper, CTC Media and Viasat group.

The target of the Reach for Change foundation is to encourage daring and creative leaders who could not stay indifferent to childhood problems in their region and found innovative solutions to them.

The contest consists of several stages:

1 October – 9 November 2015 social entrepreneurs from all over Russia apply for participation in the project at the foundation’s website;

10-11 November 2015 volunteer readings are held where employees of the foundation’s partners make assessment of each project;

10-24 November 2015 most trusted representatives of the regional commercial companies, governmental bodies and non-commercial organizations working with children make evaluation of the projects. Following results of assessment the jury will compile a short list of contestants that proceed to the next round of the competition;

24-30 November 2015 selected applications are checked against authenticity of the provided information;

1 December 2015 – 31 January 2016 contestants take part in training workshops dedicated to the following subjects: topical social agenda of the project, drafting a business plan, making a value offer, funding sources, PR and marketing. Training will be held as two-day sessions obligatory for attendance. Up to three sessions will take place in every region. Following results of workshops, the foundation’s employees will hold an interview with every participant and choose semifinalists.

1 February 2016 semifinalists will be invited to Moscow for the face-to-face defence in front of the jury consisting of top managers of the foundation’s partner companies and children of their employees. They will assess business plans and presentations of the contestants based on the following criteria: acuteness of the problem faced by the children in the region, feasibility of the solution offered by the contestant, his professional and personal qualities.

The jury will select six winners among social entrepreneurs. The foundation and partners will draft an individual program for support and professional development. It includes the initial finance over one year at 1.2 mn rubles as well as consulting services in promoting the project as business incubator and its support at the territory of the region.

Tele2 has cooperated with the Reach for Change foundation from the very beginning of its work in Russia. As a part of the contest of social entrepreneurs, the operator is providing financial support and consulting services. Tele2 top managers and employees become tutors of the contest winners and help them develop entrepreneurship skills, consult on legal, marketing and other issues so that later they could develop their projects on their own.