On August 18, Dymki creative space in the village of Mikhalova (Lahoisk district) hosted the Big Family Art Picnic. Hanna and Andrei Verbitsky, who took part in Biz4all-2 social entrepreneurship training programme, discuss why it is necessary to have a tight-knit local community and how locals can work together to build new values.

On August 11^th, "EcoLife"  Adult  and Children Leisure Centre hosted a family eco-picnic, having brought together several hundred guests and residents of Barauliany. "EcoLife"  was a part of the Biz4all social entrepreneurship training programme. While some people at the picnic were playing petanque, teenagers had fun with teachers of stage speech and acting, and children tried home-made cheese and bought fresh squeezed watermelon juice, we spoke to Aksana Bernatskaya, director of the Centre, about the motivation to organize free neighbourhood picnics, ways to help develop businesses and sources of inspiration.

Many people in Belarus start on their path in social entrepreneurship after they have worked in large business companies, which are centred around increasing income but lack something more important and profound. That is exactly what happened to Yuliana Sheuchik: one and a half years ago she quit her job in finance and switched to social entrepreneurship. Yuliana came to Biz4all programme to support an idea by another participant, psychologist Olga Makarevich. Olga opened the Centre for Effective Parenthood in Minsk.