SESI promoted social entrepreneurship as a tool for inclusion, participation & employability among young people, particularly those from rural disadvantaged areas. Its overall ambition was to strengthen the capacity of youth workers& organisations to empower young people to turn social challenges into opportunities for innovation& community impact. Specifically, SESI pursued 4objectives: - Establish a sustainable partnership to learn about & promote social entrepreneurship as a means of inclusion for disadvantaged youth, facilitating the exchange of experiences & best practices at both local & international levels. - Develop a blended training programme that equips youth workers with the competences, methods & tools needed to teach social entrepreneurship & inspire young people to design social projects with community value. - Build the capacity of young people to initiate& implement social projects by providing them with practical training, mentorship,& access to a digital community through the newly created SEED Connect App. - Disseminate & promote a transferable training model that positions social entrepreneurship as a driver of social inclusion & contributes to policy discussions on youth employment & innovation in Europe.
The SESI project (Social Entrepreneurship as Enabler of Social Inclusion) was created to address youth unemployment, social exclusion, and the lack of opportunities affecting young people across Europe, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. It recognised that entrepreneurship is not only an economic driver, but also a means for empowerment, participation, and community development. Despite the growing role of the social economy in creating inclusive and sustainable jobs, many young people remain unaware of its potential due to limited access to training, mentorship, and supportive networks. SESI responded to these needs by: enhancing youth workers’ competences to use social entrepreneurship as an educational tool; offering disadvantaged youth pathways to employability and civic engagement through social innovation; and bridging the gap between youth work, social economy, and EU policy frameworks promoting inclusion. Aligned with the EU Youth Strategy, the Social Economy Action Plan, and the European Skills Agenda, SESI sought to make youth work a catalyst for employability, innovation, and inclusion across Europe.