
Social Entrepreneurship in the Green Space

Intern with a regional initiative based in Kosovo, established to advocate and promote sustainable development in the Western Balkans, specifically concentrating on a number of key topics such as sustainable economic development, environmental protection, energy development, and climate change. The foundation works to advance sustainable development practices as ways to ensure and maximize opportunities for all people through policy advocacy and project developments in the region with a focus on the following:
1. Regional Cooperation is embodied in the foundation’s endeavors, gathering all actors at all levels to work together and harness an enabling environment for vital work at the national and regional level towards sustainable development.
2. Social Innovation is a program fostering new spaces for reconciliation of youth in the region through social entrepreneurship, providing a framework and enriching capacities for businesses to have a positive impact in the Western Balkans.
3. Sustainable Development lays the foundation of the host organization's objectives. They work to deliver a regional sustainability agenda through advocacy, empowerment, regional cooperation, social entrepreneurship, research and policy analysis, securing its stance as the leading organization within this domain.
Summary of Projects and Internships
Interns have the opportunity to intern with the following programs related to environmental social enterprise development currently being implemented by the host organization:
1. Balkan Green Ideas (BGI) is a project that stimulates and encourages ambitious entrepreneurs within the Western Balkans in generating green business ideas that utilize local resources and revitalizes disappearing traditional production chains and community-based markets. The objective is to promote the principles and values of sustainable and green policy among young people in matters related to the economic, social, and political development of Western Balkan societies, as well as to connect young green activists and help them to identify potentials within their communities to create green and sustainable youth initiatives and businesses and ultimately contribute to strengthening their role in the vision for sustainable development within the region.
2. RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs) supports young change-makers in developing their impactful ideas into sustainable social businesses. The objective of the project is to address a specific and crucial need in the region in relation to its current context and history: opening new spaces of reconciliation for the youth of the Western Balkans through social entrepreneurship. The project, due to its very regional nature, will tend to increase the number of cross-border interactions around social entrepreneurship during the 3 years of the project and thereafter.
Internships are available in a variety of focus areas and organizational functions:
Social enterprise development
Data collection, analysis, infographic design
Environmental advocacy and education campaigns
Report/grant writing, editing, and proofreading in English
Public relations and communications
Isla is looking for an intern who is pursuing or has received a university degree in business, entrepreneurship, environmental sciences, environmental conservation, sustainable energy, international studies, public policy, communications, public relations, English, creative writing, or other-related fields. In terms of skills and abilities, the Intern should have the ability to take initiative, work under minimal guidance in both office and field settings. Motivation and commitment to work effectively as part of an inter-cultural team. Excellent interpersonal skills. Willingness to learn, be flexible, and understand cross-cultural differences, Kosovo's culture, history, and current events.
Please note that Interns may be asked to work on one of the following projects as needed to conduct research; engage in environmental advocacy, public campaigns, public relations, and communications; assist with report/grant writing, editing, and proofreading in English.
GREEN CROSS – Towards Local Green Economies with Smart Investments
Balkan Energy Prospect website platform
Green Rural Deal
Balkan Green Academy (BGA)
Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation for Transformative Environmental Action
Environmental Capacity Building of Data Use in Kosovo