Polish aid

Belarus offers favourable conditions for engaging in craftsmanship activities thanks to simplified business registration formalities and low taxes. The purpose of the project carried out together with the MAP ZAO business incubator was the professional activation of women from rural areas. During the courses, they acquired knowledge, skills and tools needed to start their own crafts businesses. The village of Kolodischi near Minsk now houses a co-working centre equipped with machinery and devices necessary for tailoring.

Workshops on hand embroidery, machine sewing and crocheting, run under the supervision of Polish craftsmen (among others), were attended by 76 women. Their work output includes fine, colourful, high-quality handcrafted items, such as jewellery and home decorations. These unique, manually produced articles can also be purchased online. Trained Belarusian women, furnished with professional equipment and new skills, can work alone or in groups in facilities converted to serve as tailor shops. The formal opening of the centre was attended by the Belarusian deputy minister of economy Dzmitry Matusevich. The successful cooperation has not gone unnoticed by Belarusian state newspapers and television.

Says Marina Naidovich from the MAP ZAO incubator: “After paying a token annual fee of about PLN 43, each Belarusian citizen can engage in craft activities and produce and sell their own items. The graduates of our courses are 76 women who can take advantage of the ‘Robim razam’ online platform – a free website where they can publish information about themselves and their products.”

Podlaska Regional Development Foundation

PLACE OF IMPLEMENTATION Belarus, Kolodischi

CO-FINANCING PLN 268,053