The WINNER - Social Entrepreneur of the Year

The Czech Republic

Jozef Baláž

Liga o.s. Bruntal

Josef Balaz employs socially marginalized individuals in the region of Bruntal through his business and then reinvests the profit in community development through a foundation. In the economically hard-hit area of Bruntal, unemployment is almost 250% that of the standard Czech unemployment rate. Among the Roma population, unemployment in the area is as high as 90% due to both discrimination and a coddling social system. Josef Balaz’s strategy has been to look for market weaknesses or cracks and exploit them with a first mover advantage. His companies include both a construction company and an electronic waste management company called the Green Workshop. Josef, foreseeing the change in EU law regarding electronic waste management in 1995, started the Green Workshop to handle all electronic waste recycling in the northern Czech region. Thus, the Green Workshop also provides environmental benefit in addition to its employment of socially marginalized populations. Josef reinvests his profits into a foundation that targets root causes of unemployment in the Roma community by providing a youth club, integration center, and employment assistance. Mr. Balaz is a modest individual with a soft strength. Of Roma origin, Mr. Balaz has long been passionate about Roma affairs. However, after an experience in providing free aid made him realize he was hindering rather than helping individuals, he shifted his work to providing opportunities to those that want a hand rather than a handout. At only 31, his visionary foresight and successful business practices have already made him one of the most respected businessmen in the region with plenty of potential for further growth.