Bagel Bejgl - a female enterprise that supports women survivors of human trafficking

"Every working day at Bagel Bejgl is dynamic and different. It starts with coffee and smiles as we welcome our regular customers. We receive deliveries from Wolt and Glovo, prepare catering, and design new menus. We knead and prepare fresh dough for tomorrow's bagels. Although we are busy, the joy is even greater. The atmosphere is supportive and friendly, and each day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth and learning." This is how the conversation with Nova Ekonomija starts with Marijana Savić, the director of the Atina association and founder of the social enterprise "Bagel Bejgl."

Bagel Bejgl is a social enterprise established nine years ago. It is located at Knez Danilova 39 in Belgrade. All sales profits support the programs of the NGO Atina, which works to socially include victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

In the activist community and the community of socially responsible companies, they are recognised for making delicious food but also for making changes in the lives of women who are victims of human trafficking and those who have suffered violence, as Marijana points out.

However, in the broader population, we are recognised as a place where one can eat a juicy bagel. After many years of returning for that taste, people who learn about our story are even more pleased to support our business.

The Atina association, which founded this company, initially had to fend for itself to finance programs of direct support for trafficked women (safe accommodation, legal support, help with education, and employment, on average helping over 150 women annually), and this remains the case today. According to Marijana Savić, Atina still only has support from the international community.

She emphasised that Bagel Bejgl is a female enterprise that employs seven women while occasionally employing another 10 in temporary and intermittent jobs.

"In our country, unfortunately, almost all categories are hard to employ, including women and young people up to 30 years, as well as women older than 50," said Savić.

She reminds us that social enterprises should be considered not only through employment but also through profit distribution, investment in social change, and providing opportunities for those who want to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for job hunting, which is what Bagel Bejgl does.

Since Bagel Bejgl's founding, over 280 women have received training, and 140 women have found their first jobs through partners in private companies.

"Social enterprises use business strategies to solve social problems, improve communities, and enhance people's lives while striving to have a minimal environmental impact. Social enterprises earn by selling goods and services but reinvest their profits into the business or local community. The key advantage is the social change they create, in synergy with others, to achieve the desired changes," Savić said in an interview with Nova Ekonomija.

What is a bagel?

A bagel is originally a pastry made by Jews who lived in Poland and continued to make it after they emigrated to America, where it became well-known and popular. Thus, bagels today have a cult status in some parts of the US and the UK, similar to burek here. Bagel Bejgl makes delicious sandwiches from bagels, and the process of making this pastry is particular. It is made from high-protein flour and kneaded uniquely to develop the proteins within the dough, which is then allowed to rest and rise for 12 to 18 hours at a temperature of four degrees. After that, the dough is boiled and then baked, all of which contribute to the specific and characteristic taste of the bagel. Bagels are made from selected varieties of domestic flour, and the additions are chosen among the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

As she highlighted, social entrepreneurship is a way for the NGO Atina, which founded Bagel Bejgl, to change societal power relations and achieve political and economic equality.

"For other social enterprises, it might be something else, but the fundamental advantage remains the same – creating positive social change," she said.

Regarding the advantages of social enterprises, Marijana Savić highlighted solving social issues (inequality, poverty, marginalisation), thereby contributing to positive societal changes.

"They also serve economic empowerment as they provide opportunities for employment and skills development for vulnerable groups, enabling their economic independence. In the case of Atina, the social enterprise Bagel Bejgl contributes to the sustainability of the programs that the organisation implements and allows for the recovery of victims by reinvesting profits into the community. Social enterprises are also innovative solutions because, through a creative approach, they often bring new solutions and ideas that can be an example to others," she said.

"The advantages of social enterprises are not only economic but also in creating a fairer and more equal society. In a world where traditional economic and political structures are often limiting, social enterprises represent a beacon of hope for many communities and individuals," emphasises Savić.

According to Marijana Savić, the challenges in social entrepreneurship are numerous. Although the social mission is critical, without a quality product, investment in branding, and significant pre-investment, sustainability is not possible based only on the social component.

"Social enterprises often start with charitable goals and a focus on solving social issues. However, to achieve sustainability, investments and patience are needed. One of the key challenges is the lack of systemic support and subsidies for employing young people, women victims of violence, and other vulnerable groups. The state often subsidises large investors, while social enterprises remain without adequate support. The question that arises is why the state does not recognise and solve these problems from the budget into which we continuously and regularly deposit funds all these years," she said.

She also believes that associations that provide services and support to various sensitive groups need more funding and support.

"These associations often remain the only support for these groups but are forced to resort to entrepreneurship to survive. However, even for this segment, there are not enough programs and investments which should become imperative and a priority for all future governments. In the end, although social enterprises play an important role in society, they often face challenges in achieving sustainability. In addition to the social mission, having a quality product is necessary, as well as investing in branding and being patient. Only in this way can obstacles be overcome and success achieved," added Savić.

Although the Law on Social Entrepreneurship has existed for two years, only some enterprises are registered as social enterprises. The founder of this social enterprise cites a need for adequate support and incentives from the state and insufficient awareness and education about the advantages of social entrepreneurship.

"Incentive funds from the budget, trust, fighting corruption, and greater involvement of various actors in promoting and supporting such initiatives are needed," she stated.

Social enterprises often remain in the status of associations due to administrative and legal barriers, a lack of financial resources, and the flexibility that associations provide in the initial stages of operation.

"However, our case is different. From the beginning, Bagel Bejgl has been registered as a separate legal entity – a limited liability company. This means we operate and pay taxes like any other business without special benefits. We are a social enterprise based on the vision and mission of our founder, the Atina Association. We aim to support women and girls with our profits and create new opportunities and space for economic freedom. This structure allows us greater sustainability and flexibility in business while remaining true to our social mission," said Savić.

She cited the ability to balance social mission and sustainable business as the key to the success of social enterprises.

"In addition to their activities, success depends on a clear vision, team dedication, innovativeness, and the ability to adapt to market changes. Also, networking and collaboration with other organisations and actively seeking support and investments contribute to the successful operation of social enterprises," she said.

This social enterprise was awarded the #WEEmpower prize at the United Nations headquarters in 2018 for its efforts in advancing the goals of sustainable development and improving the status of women and girls.

Original article: Preduzeće koje pomaže ženama žrtvama trgovine ljudima - Bagel Bejgl - Nova Ekonomija