By implementing the project, we wanted to systematically develop the entrepreneurial mindset and competences of young people so that, after finishing school, they are better able to succeed in the economy of the 21st century. Our aim was to create a coherent, practical educational programme that complements school education with entrepreneurial skills, financial and digital literacy, project management and soft skills. At the same time, we wanted to strengthen the competences of youth workers and teachers by providing them with a modern methodology, digital tools and elements of non-formal education to be used in formal settings, and to connect schools with NGOs that support the development of entrepreneurial mindset. By involving partners from the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia, we wanted to highlight the transnational need to develop this competence. The project was intended to help young people gain real experience with entrepreneurial initiative, the courage to try out their own ideas and better prospects for quality employment or starting their own business.
We applied for this project based on what we observed in our work with young people, youth workers and teaching staff – that young people lack key competences for their employability in line with the requirements of the 21st-century labour market. The school environment does not provide sufficient space for their development, especially in the areas of entrepreneurial mindset, financial and digital literacy, project management and soft skills. At the same time, we saw the need to strengthen the missing competences of youth workers and teachers related to the use of modern, digital and practice-oriented tools for developing entrepreneurial competences and mindset. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digitalisation, but also exposed the limits of existing approaches. With this project, we wanted to bring together the experience of partners from different countries, create a coherent educational programme based on non-formal learning, connect schools, youth organisations and practice, and strengthen young people’s chances for quality future employment. During the implementation, these needs were confirmed.