Позитивные изменения, Том 3 №1, 2023. Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 1 (2023)

• Отмечаем растущий интерес к кузнечному делу – к нам достаточно часто стали приезжать гости из других городов соседних регионов и федеральных округов;

• Консультируем членов «Гильдии кузнецов России» на предмет грамотного ведения их дела и выстраивания отношений с органами власти.

МОДЕЛЬ ФИНАНСОВОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ

Опорным видом деятельности всегда были мастер-классы по ковке. В пандемию мы переориентировались на среднегабаритные кованые изделия для интерьера и загородной недвижимости. Продаем изделия на азиатской онлайн-платформе pinkoi.com, раньше работали с etsy.com.

17 августа 2022 г. открыли АНО «Агентство креативных индустрий «КУЙ», чтобы иметь возможность получать грантовую поддержку. Кроме того, мониторим формы государственной поддержки в ХМАО-Югре (субсидии, компенсации затрат, гранты для предпринимателей).

New Life of the Publishing Project “Catalog “Social Entrepreneurship of Russia”

"A Journal Within A Journal" – that's what you can call this section. It is an extension of the "Social Entrepreneurship in Russia" catalog published since 2014. Since 2021, the catalog has become part of the Positive Changes Journal.[82 - Annual issues of the "Social Entrepreneurship in Russia" catalog for 2014–2020 can be downloaded at www.soindex.ru]

A Walk in the Dark

A Sensory Interactive Museum and Guided Tours with Blind and Visually Impaired Guides.

www.progulka-v-temnote.ru

“A Walk in the Dark” is a sensory exhibit where guests are immersed in total darkness for 50 minutes and gain new experiences and knowledge about life for the non-sighted. Group tours are conducted in a special pavilion, accompanied by blind or visually impaired guides, for whom darkness is a familiar element.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED

Social integration and rehabilitation of visually impaired people – providing jobs, decent pay and space for the blind and visually impaired employees to realize their potential.

A change in the society’s attitude toward people with visual impairments – focusing on the capabilities, rather than the limitations, of the blind and visually impaired people. Between 10,000 and 14,000 people visit the museum’s darkness programs each year.

The museum’s NPS index is 95–98 % on average, indicating the guests’ willingness to actively recommend this recreational activity to friends and acquaintances.

METHODS USED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

Development of unconventional guided tours and other original programs in the dark, where the presenter is a blind man. In addition to employment and personal fulfillment, the museum guides show people with vision a new world – the world of senses – and teach them to navigate it by relying on all the senses except sight. Temporary visual deprivation allows museum guests to try on the role of a blind person, which fundamentally changes the worldview and attitude toward people with disabilities.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS

In 2022, the museum:

• became a finalist for the #WeAreTogether International Award;

• received a special award “For Contribution to the Development of Inclusion” of the “Golden Mercury” National Awards;

• got shortlisted for the “Guiding Star”, “Expert of the Year”, and “Advertising of the Future” contests.

In 2021, the museum:

• won the “Tell the World” All-Russian Contest of NGOs and social enterprises;

• won the first prize of the “Louder!” PR award in the “Best Work with Mass Media” nomination;

• won the “Golden Mercury” National Award in the “Best Small Business in the Service Industry” nomination;

• was named “Outstanding Contestant of the Year” in the Press Service of the Year 2020 contest;

• won the annual KudaGo Award in the “Entertainment Project of the Year” nomination.

FUNDS RAISED IN 2022

32 million rubles.

WHAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR

• more than 10,000 people visited the Walk in the Dark programs;

• the museum franchise has been developed, packaged and is ready for sale;

• the title of a socially responsible company in Moscow was reiterated for the second time;

• the museum staff was expanded – three new blind employees and two sighted specialists were hired;

• five original master classes in the dark have been developed and launched;

• the museum has become a finalist and winner of several prestigious awards;

• the new website has been finalized and launched, delivering more business opportunities;

• business ties with partners and friendly projects have been strengthened;

• more than 37 materials about the museum’s activities and expert articles on corporate social responsibility were published in the media.

DIRECT RESULTS FOR 2022

The museum employs 9 blind and visually impaired tour guides, and three more blind employees were trained and got ready for work in 2022. At the moment, four more people with visual impairments are receiving training and internships. In addition, the museum is constantly receiving requests for employment as tour guides, so the management is actively working on selling franchises, which will create new jobs, as well as allow more people to experience the darkness.

SOCIAL EFFECTS ACHIEVED IN 2022

The idea of projects in the dark is not new – there are many famous “dark” places in the world, which are popular with locals and tourists alike. These include the Invisible Exhibition in Budapest, the MUZIEUM in Nijmegen (Netherlands), and Teatro Ciego shows in Buenos Aires.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of such projects – each one allows people to use immersion in the dark as the tool not only to learn more about themselves and their abilities, but also to experience firsthand the difficulties of life for people with visual impairments.

The activities of the “Walk in the Dark” museum have a great impact on increasing the level of tolerance in the society towards people with disabilities, helping the visitors to become more sensitive and considerate of those around them. Visiting “darkness” gives people a new experience and introduces them to the world of the blind, drawing society’s attention to important social issues: stereotypes about people with disabilities, accessibility, and the importance of inclusion.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

The “Walk in the Dark” tours are guided by blind and visually impaired people (visual impairment groups 1 and 2). At the moment, 60 % of the museum’s staff are employees with disabilities. Working at the museum gives them an opportunity to socialize, interact with more people, develop interesting projects and master classes, self-actualize, and earn a competitive salary. There are not many jobs for people with disabilities, and it can be difficult for them to find interesting work and official employment. The “Walk in the Dark” museum partially addresses this problem by creating jobs for people with disabilities and offering them a comfortable working environment.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL

The museum’s financial model is self-sustainable: profits are generated from selling tickets to guided tours, original master classes, quests and trainings in the dark. The proceeds go to pay taxes, wages, cover lease obligations, and promote the project.