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Inclusion through Entrepreneurship

2022-3-RO01-KA153-YOU-0000982042022Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: RO|LV|IT|FR|ES|BG · Grant: €17,023
Youth employabilityEntrepreneurial learning - entrepreneurship educationInclusion of marginalised young people

Objectives

As per OECD and European Commission policies on recent developments, the inclusive entrepreneurship policy aims to provide all individuals with an equal opportunity to establish a sustainable business, irrespective of their background, age, or gender. It contributes to social inclusion by granting everyone an equal chance to initiate and operate businesses. Inclusive Entrepreneurship assists young people in averting skill erosion and the diminishment of their professional networks. It referrs to the engagement of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in entrepreneurship for economic and social advancement. (https://doi.org/10.1787/71b7a9bb-en) The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant adverse impact on numerous young people as they encountered challenges in maximizing their education and securing employment in a labor market characterized by escalating unemployment rates across EU Member States and OECD nations. Recent research revealed that, in 2021, 13.1% of individuals aged 15-29 in the EU were not engaged in employment, education, or training (i.e., NEETs). (https://tinyurl.com/2p93be8k) The opportunity cost of not supporting groups like NEET youth was exceedingly high. With millions of potential entrepreneurs missing, countries forfeited opportunities for innovation, growth, and job creation. Establishing a business activity also servs to boost self-esteem as young people generate income for themselves, actively contributed to society, and reduce their susceptibility to poverty and social exclusion. The Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey indicated that nearly 45% of university students had planned to initiate a business within five years of graduation. Nevertheless, only 5% of individuals aged 18 to 30 managed to work on a startup. If the youth (18-30 years old) had been as active as core-age men (30-49 years old), the European Union (EU) could have seen an additional 1 million youth entrepreneurs. Young people comprised 11% of the "missing" entrepreneurs in the EU. (https://tinyurl.com/5aj4cyv9) In 2020, Romania had one of the highest rates of young people not engaged in education or employment among EU member countries. In Romania, 16.6% of individuals aged 15 to 29 were not in education or employment, making it the fifth-highest rate among EU member countries (average - 13.5% in 2020). According to OECD data, Romanians were more likely than the EU average to believe they possessed the capabilities and skills to establish a business (46.2% vs. 41.9% for the EU). Given this fact, self-employment could serve as a crucial solution to reduce the number of NEETs in the country. (https://tinyurl.com/yksw3vn2 and https://tinyurl.com/2p89823z) Research demonstrated that inclusive entrepreneurship could offer a valuable remedy for addressing youth unemployment, and the role of youth workers is indispensable in empowering, motivating and assisting young individuals. (Source: https://tinyurl.com/y7rf9ws6) This project applied inclusive entrepreneurship to achieve personal, social, and employment integration for young people with fewer opportunities. It provided a platform for youth workers to develop their entrepreneurship knowledge and customized methodologies in an intercultural and international context. The focus was on exploring and sharing best practices and conducting local study visits. The training course included a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge, often enabling youth workers to engage with e-learning systems hands-on. The project aimed to enhance the competency of 22 youth workers from six participating countries (along with two external trainers from Georgia and Azerbaijan) to effectively apply the empowerment strategies, methodologies, and tools acquired within their communities. This goal would be achieved through the following specific objectives: 1. Enhancing the innovative entrepreneurial knowledge of the 22 youth workers through non-formal education-based activities, preparing them to transfer this knowledge and techniques to other youth workers in their local communities during the 9-day mobility program, and apply them in their work with young people from disadvantaged groups. 2. Equipping the 22 youth workers with the necessary tools to work with young people, especially NEETs, fostering their entrepreneurial spirit and preparing them to increase their ability for active participation and developing their own enterprises during the 9-day mobility. 3. Fostering international cooperation and expanding existing networks, bolstering the capacity of six NGOs through the creation of a common online platform for exchanging experiences and practices until the end of August 2023.

Project partners (6)