“Social Entrepreneurship against Youth Unemployment” is a joint Erasmus+ project among the Brussels-based Centre for European Progression (CFEP) and five NGOs from Italy, Portugal, France, Greece and Slovakia under the coordination of the Association “Institute Perspectives” from Bulgaria.
The youth exchange and training program will be held between the 22nd and 30th April 2017 in Svishtov, Bulgaria with the participation of 32 youngsters and their group leaders. From Belgium, the CFEP can send 4 people and a leader.
The selected candidates can learn about social entrepreneurship, including the basics of accounting and negotiation techniques with business partners. Experts, representatives of the public authorities, people from the business area and social entrepreneurs will share their great practices with the youngsters, who can also discuss their ideas with each other.
The main goal is to fight against youth unemployment and give a chance for a better life to those youngsters who neither work, nor go to school. The problem of the so-called NEET group (Not in Employment, Education or Training) is so significant that according to Eurostat, 12% of the young people at age of 15-24 were considered as NEET in the European Union in 2016. Moreover, as we have seen last year, social frustration were sometimes strengthened by the free movement of European citizens, and the tensions got even higher because of the migration crisis.
So, in 2017, there is an increasing need to create innovative solutions for future coexistence and to use social functions of the entrepreneurship and the market economy as an effective tool to heel these problems.
What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurs drive social innovation and transformation in various fields including education, health, environment and enterprise development. They pursue poverty alleviation goals with entrepreneurial zeal, business methods and the courage to innovate and overcome traditional practices. A social entrepreneur, similar to a business entrepreneur, builds strong and sustainable organizations, which are either set up as not-for-profits or companies.
How will it be taught during the seminar?
Informal methods and techniques will be used, like brainstorming, canvas, creative workshops, drama theatre, mandala and presentations. Participants should also organize a follow-up event after returning to Belgium where they demonstrate what they have learnt. For this event, they got all the help from the Centre for European Progression.
There will be some fun, after all?
Of course. Several trips and social events will be organized during the stay in Svishtov in order to get to know better other cultures. You can taste the kitchen of other participating countries, travel to the beautiful Velikovo Tarnovo and feel the vivid atmosphere of the student town Svishtov. Participants will be hosted in the Manastira Hotel Complex famous for its fantastic mountainous panorama and open-air spas.
Do you have to pay?
No. Travel, meals and accommodation costs are covered by the organizers.
Who is the host organization?
The “Institute Perspectives” is one of the fastest evolving NGOs in Bulgaria, working mainly on the development and implementation of youth potential. The founders of the “Institute Perspectives” originally established a student philosophy club in 2012 at the “Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo. Since then, four new student clubs have been founded in Varna, Ruse, Plovdiv and Sofia. As a result of the various activities, the founders decided to establish a non-profit organization. Its goal is to facilitate broader-scale and various initiatives, which help the youth to develop their potential in Bulgaria and in the European Union. The members of board are young people up to 30 years old, and 20 academics and experts of the national level are also invited. The association has 5 departments and 6 clubs in the country. For our initiatives, the Institute relies on the support of 150 young people from Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse and Sofia. Since 2012, the Institute Perspectives have sent their representatives to more than 35 Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training courses and included more than 250 young Bulgarians in activities of European education programs like Erasmus+, Youth in Action and Europe for citizen.
What are the criteria for application?
- You should be between the age of 16 and 24.
- You should be a Belgian citizen or reside legally in Belgium.
- You should have a strong interest in social affairs and entrepreneurship.
- You should be open to work in a group and in a multicultural environment.
- You should take part in the organization of the follow-up event after your return to Belgium.
- You should know a bit of cooking because the Belgian group will have to prepare a lunch for the other during the seminar in Bulgaria.
If you are interested, please, send us your motivational letter to info@c4ep.eu in English in which you introduce yourself and explain why you would like to participate in “Social Entrepreneurship against Youth Employment” program.
Deadline: 1st February 2017.