ABSTRACT

This chapter introduces one particular social enterprise, which supports economic activities of mentally and physically handicapped people by giving them the chance to become active members of society and in this way reduce the poverty at a local level. The Czech Republic is a central European country with quite a stable political and economic situation. The country has one of the highest human development indicators in Central and Eastern Europe and progress is being monitored in the areas of gender, political freedom, governance, healthcare, and education. The group of handicapped people finds them living in economically and socially marginalized situations. It is difficult for them to become active members of a society which often struggles with stereotyped images about people with disabilities. Family support is crucial, accompanied by some state or non-governmental initiatives, but also by social entrepreneurs.