Auróra Civil and Community House
About this good practice
The AURÓRA Civil and Community House started in the fall of 2014 as a self-sustaining social enterprise that provides space for individuals, groups and non-profit organizations working in different social, political and cultural fields to share their ideas, build new relationships and create new cooperative projects. Working together with ca.120 volunteers in less than two years AURÓRA mobilized over 2000 people, engaged more than 70 civil organizations, and hosted hundreds of programs. The first 1,5 year of AURÓRA has proven that this model works - there is need for it, and there is a critical mass of well-skilled and committed people who are willing to engage to make it happen. AURÓRA’s aim is now to stabilize its functioning via organizational and infrastructural development, and to focus on community organizing among local inhabitants in the 8th district.
The AURÓRA-model works through the utilization of revenue generating resources such as café, catering service, the lease of office space and other spaces, by operating and leasing parking spaces and ticket sales. Besides, the owner of AURÓRA, the MAROM Association has further income sources that are channelled in to AURÓRA. A second level of sustainability is the aspect of human resources. A model for organizing volunteers and gaining expertise, which enables the place to work on daily basis. The organizational sustainability is crucial, it is needed to collect and process the organizational experiences.
Resources needed
It started with a 90.000 USD grant by the UJA Federation, which was enough to cover the expenses that were necessary for “starting up”. To run an AURÓRA-like enterprise does not require any extra skills, financial background or human resource. They work with volunteers and civil organizations.
Evidence of success
The first 1,5 year of Auróra has proven that the volunteer system and democratic model works - there is need for it, and there is a critical mass of well-skilled and committed people who are willing to engage to make it happen. Auróra mobilized over 2000 people, engaged more than 70 civil organizations, and hosted hundreds of programs in order to enhance their activity in bettering the living conditions of the local inhabitants. The revenue generating resources financially support the model.
Potential for learning or transfer
AURÓRA showcases an enterprise model that is easily transferable into other European contexts without any difficulties. The resources needed are the following: availability of volunteers in the society, committed management team with entrepreneurial skills, fundraising motivations and co-operations with other NGOs, openness towards atypical financial resources (e.g. linked services, supplementary activities).