Social Entrepreneurship to battle Youth Social Exclusion Erasmus Project

Project Title

Social Entrepreneurship to battle Youth Social Exclusion

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Inclusion – equity; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

CONTEXT
During the last years, EU economy has started to show signs of recovery following the financial crisis of 2008. However, according to EU SPC’s ‘2017 Social Protection Performance Monitor (SPPM) dashboard results’: “despite the gradual improvements, social conditions still remain worse compared to 2008 in many Member States”. Specifically, the indicators regarding young NEETs, for the period of 2008-2016, show deterioration in 11 member states and improvement only in 5 member states. Furthermore, youth unemployment ratio and long-term unemployment rate, were worse in 2016 in most member states than in 2008.
One particularly vulnerable group in the contemporary economic environment is NEETs who are at risk of social exclusion due to their low skills and lack of formal education. The overall objective of this project is to empower youths facing social exclusion due to unemployment, by giving them an opportunity to fulfil their potential and be
impactful members of their society by introducing them to the benefits of social entrepreneurship.

OBJECTIVES
– to develop transnational cooperation in the field of social entrepreneurship by exchanging good practices and experiences between partner countries
– to introduce the concept and potential benefits of social entrepreneurship to youths facing social exclusion due to low skills and unemployment (NEETs)
– to improve the skills and competences of young people that are required to succeed in the field of social entrepreneurship
– to improve young NEETs ability to utilize the internet and social media in order to promote their businesses online
– to improve communication, interaction, cooperation and language skills of participants
– to introduce participant to the cultural environment of other partner countries
– to strengthen the feeling of belonging to a European community
– to improve the effectiveness of youth workers on providing training and guidance to NEETs with regard to the necessary skills they need to possess in order to compete effectively in the business environment

TARGET GROUPS
Young people facing the risk of social exclusion due to fewer opportunities and unemployment (NEETs, aged 15-24) are the main group that this project is targeted to. Social entrepreneurship is expected to provide them with an opportunity to have a positive impact in their society and feel included. The project aims to provide them with the
necessary skills and knowledge to start, run and sustain their own social enterprises. Youth workers that provide education to NEETs are another target group of this project. In order to provide high quality education in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship to NEETs, youth workers need to be trained in innovative teaching tools such as Virtual Enterprises software.

ACTIVITIES
The project will introduce a group of NEETs to social entrepreneurship, business development, internet and social media on promoting business ventures and virtual businesses software. The participants are expected to create their own ideas about potential social businesses (using virtual enterprises software) and present them in the final workshop. A group of youth educators will also be trained in virtual enterprises software and are expected to guide the participants during the course of the project. In all countries, there will be visits to successful social businesses.
The project will have five LTTAs. The first event will only involve 2 educators from each country. The rest will involve 3 students and 1 educator from each country. In total, at least 50 NEETs and 15 youth educators will take part in the project. In the final event, there will be presentations and discussion on the social business ideas of the participants.

RESULTS
– Empowerment of young NEETs facing social exclusion due to unemployment
– Improved understanding of concept and benefits social entrepreneurship by NEETs
– Improved skills and competences of young NEETs willing to explore their possibilities in social entrepreneurship
– The granting of access to young people to successful examples and opportunities in the field of social enterprises through the exchange of good practices
– Increased knowledge of potential young social entrepreneurs on how businesses operate and how they can have a positive impact on societies
– Young NEETs will be able to use the internet and social media to promote their businesses and disseminate the impact of their work
– Young NEETs will have a better grasp of topics as entrepreneurial marketing and behaviour, business planning,
market assessment and social entrepreneurship
– Improved ability of youth workers to train and encourage young people to take up social entrepreneurship
– Improved communication, interaction, cooperation and language skills of participants
– Improved knowledge of participants of different cultural environments
– Young NEETs will develop a sense of belonging in a wider European community

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 87470 Eur

Project Coordinator

MPIRMPAKOS D. & SIA O.E. & Country: EL

Project Partners

• SDRUJENIE-BISNES INKUBATOR-GOTSE DELCHEV, TSENTAR ZA PODPOMAGANE NA PREDPRIEMACHESTVOTO
• Cda College
• KLAIPEDOS VALSTYBINE KOLEGIJA
• Centrul Judetean de Resurse si Asistenta Educationala Arad