Back to search

Think Outside The Box

2022-1-SK02-KA152-YOU-0000519822022Mobility of young peoplefinalized
Countries: SK|DE|TR|IT|BG|PL · Grant: €24,401
Entrepreneurial learning - entrepreneurship educationKey competences developmentYouth employability

Objectives

The primary aim of the project was to adress youth unemployment, with a particular focus on NEET (not in employment, education, or training) young people across the EU, using innovative solutions such as social entrepreneurship. The project pursued equal access to employment opportunities and equipped young people with the relevant skills to enhance their employment prospects and foster a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship. It is important to mention that, although our partners were informed that the project aimed to equip NEETs with relevant skills, we faced difficulties finding such participants among the youth. As a result, we focused on selecting participants who, while not NEET, were highly interested in the topic and motivated to improve their employment prospects. Many of these participants appreciated the opportunity, as many of them belonged to vulnerable groups and it was their first experience with informal education and an Erasmus project. One of the key objectives was to enhance entrepreneurial education among young people, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of social entrepreneurship, including its theory, concepts, steps, and philosophy. The project also aimed to increase motivation and initiative among young people, encouraging them to seek employment opportunities and address psychological barriers such as lack of self-confidence, emotionalism, and FOMO (fear of missing out). Improving social and communication skills was another significant objective, as these skills are crucial for preparing young people for the workforce. The project aimed to develop essential soft skills like problem-solving, empathy, and time management. Promoting creative and critical thinking was also a priority, with activities designed to encourage a creative mindset and practical solution development. The project aimed to enable participants to go through the process of developing green or social entrepreneurship projects and reflect on its various steps. Flagship of the activities was a dynamic Simulation: Step into Business World where participants formed fictional companies with realistic parameters and real life potential, selecting names, campaign slogans, and developing posters or advertisements that align with their company's mission. Participants collaborated to define team roles and establish the mission and vision of their respective companies. Each group then conducted SWOT and Business Model Canvas analyses for their fictitious enterprises. Using this analysis alongside considerations such as product construction timelines, material costs, employee salaries, competitor pricing, and market demand and more. Teams also engaged in matchmaking to explore potential collaborations and trade opportunities between their simulated companies. Following this, participants present their startup ideas in a casino-style format, each receiving 200 euros to invest in the startup of their choice. Investments can be used to acquire services like analytics, PS specialists or marketing. Following the casino phase, where participants invest in startup ideas and engage in quizzes and interactions with judges, the simulation progresses to the Dragons' Den phase. Here, a jury evaluates each startup idea based on criteria like innovation, feasibility, and presentation quality. After tallying the points, the winners are announced and awarded valuable prizes. This phase concludes the simulation, highlighting the entrepreneurial skills and strategic thinking demonstrated by the participants throughout the interactive business exercise. What made our project stand out was the opportunity to meet successful local business representatives and hear their stories. Participants had the chance to listen to Martin Pecko, the founder of Nebbia Fitness, who shared his journey of overcoming numerous failures and mistakes over 25 years while continuously learning and growing. The company operates on 6 continents in 51 countries worldwide. His real-life story aimed to inspire young people, showing them that with perseverance, anyone can achieve their dreams. Lastly, the project aimed to develop the organizational capacity of 6 partner organizations to support young people in integrating into the labor market. This included developing methods, tools, and skills for providing professional advice and guidance. Aligning with the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027, the project focused on engaging, connecting, and empowering young people, promoting a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship, and contributing to their personal and professional development.

Project partners (6)