Pepita Perich i Pujol 04.01.2019
Opinion article published in the Diari de Girona
Lately I am sorry to speak of what is called "Social and solidarity economy". Now, what do we mean by this concept? In Europe there is a current of thought that understands the social economy as the set of socio-economic initiatives that prioritize the needs of people over profit. They are also characterized because they act oriented towards values such as equity, solidarity, sustainability, participation, inclusion and commitment to the community, and also as promoters of social change. This initiative contributes to improving society through the creation of employment, the provision of services, the connection to the territory and support for social causes.
Music sounds good, no doubt, but if we talk about a social and solidarity economy, I can not forget it and I can not do anything but to quickly see the non-profit social organizations that work in the territory, driven by the citizen's initiative to cover one need Or, simply with a clear vocation of public service, working closely with people, in a comprehensive way and putting them at the center of all their actions, in a solidary and attentive way to everyone, despite the difficulties that endure in the time focusing their actions on the mission for which they were established and until this is necessary.
For us, the pillar and fundamental axis of the social economy must be "not profitable", but it seems that this concept is out of the debate. This does not profit, does not mean, in any case, not having positive results in the activities managed, manage without vision, without business tools or with clear objectives of technical, economic and financial solvency, quite the opposite. "Non-profit entities" must work with efficient and efficient management in order to guarantee the objective and their reason of being, in our case the generation of job opportunities for people with disabilities through entrepreneurship and the social company. In this sense, and insisting to be able to fine-tune and make clear what we are talking about, I miss that in the debates about Social Economy there is no talk without complex of the non-profit. Last October I attended the "Global Forum of Social Economy" GSEF held in Bilbao and I was very surprised at the fact that the non-profit sector did not have a prominent presence, not even actively participating in the debate.
From here I vindicate the very important role of non-profit organizations as the bar of the social economy and I emphasize the need for them to become an active part of this debate, which in no way can we leave closed. There is a lot to be done.
