The main goal of the GROWTH project was to empower young people—especially those with fewer opportunities—to explore and pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path. We aimed to enhance their self-concept, motivation, and entrepreneurial mindset through innovative, inclusive, and non-formal educational approaches by developing a digital board game, training curricula, a mentoring programme, and a practical toolkit for youth workers, intending to foster both personal development and employability. We also sought to improve the capacity of youth organizations to support entrepreneurship, stimulate creativity, and facilitate access to lifelong learning opportunities. Ultimately, GROWTH aimed to create a sustainable ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship education at European level, encouraging active participation, collaboration, and positive action among young people and the organizations that support them.
The GROWTH project was designed in response to the alarming levels of youth unemployment across the EU, further intensified by the COVID-19 crisis. Many young people, particularly those with fewer opportunities, lack the skills, confidence, and support needed to pursue meaningful employment or entrepreneurial paths. We identified a strong need to promote youth entrepreneurship not only as an economic solution, but as a means to build self-efficacy, resilience, and a sense of initiative. At the same time, we recognized the limited availability of innovative, accessible, and engaging learning tools tailored to young learners. GROWTH addresses these challenges by developing a digital training ecosystem—combining mentoring, gamification, and non-formal education—to empower youth and strengthen the capacity of youth workers and organizations. The project also responds to the EU's strategic priorities on employability, entrepreneurship, and inclusion.