The enterprise Rima Dates from Algeria is the winner of the ARLEM
Award 2020 - Young local entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean. The enterprise
was created in 2014 by Leila Rima Boussada and her brother Hammou
Boussada from Ghardaia, Algeria. They focus on low evaluated
varieties of dates to produce new market products such as syrup or dates
vinegar, stuffed dates with nuts and enrobed with chocolate.
Rime Dates operates in an oasis area in Algeria, bringing economic
dynamism and new income opportunities for the local population. They bring also
awareness on good practices as they produce compost from production cycle as to
be zero waste. The enterprise created six direct jobs since 2014. In addition
it has un important impact on indirect jobs as they train the farmers and their
families on post-harvest good practices like cleaning and grading dates.
Rime Dates received support from ANSEJ, a national agency for youth
employment which supports young entrepreneurs at local level. It has supported
the company in starting with taxes exemption and facilitation in financing.
Algeria is one of the biggest dates producers with more than half
million ton per year. Yet, only the Deglet Nour variety is widely
commercialised (35% of the total production).
The other shortlisted candidates
Sanad Association (Israel): Social
empowerment association and youth entrepreneurship incubator for the
Palestinian communities in Israel. Working on strengthening and
sustaining the well-being of the local Palestinian communities living in Israel
by developing both human and social capital. Sanad is guiding youth into
creative thinking and into implementing initiatives - a way of encouraging
entrepreneurship and training young leaders into becoming future executives.
Sanad's incubator employs 9 workers, 7 out of them are women. LRA support
is provided by Taybeh Local Municipality.
PresenTense (Israel). Entrepreneurship
and education programmes for low-income communities in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Non-profit enterprise that promotes entrepreneurial ecosystems in
disadvantaged communities. The ‘Made In’ program in South Tel Aviv and Jaffa
works in cooperation with the Tel Aviv Jaffa municipality and includes numerous
initiatives with youth, young adults, parents and teachers in entrepreneurship.
It provides youth and young adults between ages 16-35 from low-income
populations in Tel Aviv-Jaffa with entrepreneurial skills. Employs 13 workers.
Their collaboration with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality includes financial
support, staff support and support in hiring staff, use of facilities,
involvement of volunteers from the municipality and mutual training.
Live Love Recycle (Lebanon). A recycling
waste collection service and waste sorting education programme for companies
and schools in Beirut. First recyclable waste collection service in
Beirut. Employs 15 workers, men and women, some of them standing below poverty
line, both refugees and Lebanese. Participates in the education of waste
sorting by giving workshops in companies and schools. Supported by former Mayor
of Beirut at starting.
Eco Wave Power Ltd (Israel). Renewable
energy enterprise developing an innovative wave energy generation technology.
Israeli
company that has become a world leader in shaping the technology that allows
companies to harvest the power of sea waves. Employs 14 people and operates at
international level in different countries. Supported by Atarim (a state and
municipal owned agency) which provided first site research and development wave
energy station. Operational in Jaffa Port since 2014. Now Atarim supports the
extension of this energy station.