THE STORY OF AMANITA
AMANITA is a social enterprise and circular economy-based work center, founded in 2013 by Solve et Coagula OÜ. Our focus is on social entrepreneurship, which we define as business activities aimed at addressing specific societal challenges. We achieve this by selling our products and services. In other words, a social enterprise operates to achieve a particular social objective, utilizing the income generated from its business activities to fulfill that purpose.
The social mission of social enterprises involves direct contributions to people’s well-being, improving livelihoods, and maintaining the desired state of the natural and living environment. At AMANITA, we upcycle wood based on circular economy principles while providing employment opportunities for people with reduced or limited work capacity.
Products and Services
Currently, our primary products include wooden keepsakes and souvenirs, a variety of handicrafts, and creative works. Examples include cutting boards, trivets, bottle holders, flower boxes, benches, mailboxes, foldable wooden cars and motorcycles, as well as puzzles and brain-teasing games. We also offer CNC milling and laser cutting services, with the option to engrave logos and texts on products, making them personal and unique.
Additionally, we provide training sessions and are open to collaboration. We are also expanding into other social services, such as support person services and specialized care services.
Sustainability and Inclusion
Our products are primarily crafted, renovated, and repurposed using materials that would otherwise be waste from large-scale production (e.g., plywood, veneer, laminated wood, pallets, etc.). Our workforce predominantly consists of individuals with reduced or limited work capacity, who work under the guidance of activity supervisors. Currently, we operate primarily in Pärnu.
Rehabilitation and Empowerment
Our rehabilitative activities foster independence among individuals with special needs and help prevent learned helplessness or institutional dependency. Therapeutic handicraft activities provide an outlet and a sense of achievement while offering feedback to assess an individual’s perseverance, mindset, motivation, and abilities. Ideally, we aim to match each person with tasks suited to their capabilities.
Community and Mental Health Initiatives
In addition to our enterprise, we operate as a nonprofit organization (NGO) AMANITA, adhering to the ethical code of conduct for nonprofits.
We are also founded our mental health center in Pärnu called Villa Amanita. The center will offer various therapies, training sessions, seminars, and services within the mental health field.
Villa Amanita (Adamsoni 1. Pärnu) is a mental health services center, which opened its doors in 2023 with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In addition to services that provide places to live (community living and supported living), we offer activities that improve coping and still provide services related to the labor market, such as employment support services and other labor market services. This is a direct example of how changes in the psychosocial field can also be implemented through entrepreneurship!
Our vision of all supporting services is based on creating opportunities and cooperation. By this we mean that people who have the will and motivation to improve their quality of life are welcome to our service, because only in this way can we achieve better results together. For our part, we have created both a work center and a unit for living, and we have trained staff who help people cope better with life and set goals through meaningful activities.
We also highly value working as a meaningful activity. If you cannot find a job on the open labor market, you can carry out creative and developmental activities in our circular economy workshop.
On the first or basement floor of the villa, as part of the daily life support service, you can do various therapeutic activities with the help of instructors. Various club activities are also welcome, which contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of our people.