Training course - “SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH”

Dear Friends! “Economic crisis, poverty, youth unemployment, social exclusion, discrimination, human rights’ violations” are words that we hear almost every day. In this discouraging context, YEU invites you to JOIN HANDS, inspire change and refine the existing situation! You are welcome to take part in this training course! Before your decision, let us introduce you to the events. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Training course (TC) “Social entrepreneurship for sustainable growth” Dates: October 26th-November 3rd 2015 (travel dates are included) Place: Belgium and surroundings Number of participants: 22 Countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE ONLINE CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS ON YEU INTRANET: http://intranet.yeu-international.org/events/details/event/67 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organizer Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU) is an International Non-Governmental Youth Organization established in 1986 and member of the European Youth Forum in Brussels as an INGYO. YEU looks forward to increase tolerance and awareness between different countries, cultures and traditions, and to promote a greater level of comprehension through the development of various youth activities. The main aim of YEU is to promote peace, understanding and co-operation between the young people of the world, in a spirit of respect for human rights. YEU is a non-profit making, interdenominational youth organization independent of all political affiliation, run by young people for young people by means of a democratic structure. Visit our website for more details about YEU: www.yeu-international.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Context As a result of the financial crisis encountered in Europe the rate of unemployment increases rapidly. Social complications, exclusion, discrimination and human rights violations, threaten vulnerable groups and youth. In an attempt to face the problem, several measures are undertaken but usually focus on the effects and not the roots of the problem. YEU, traditionally close to youth and their needs, believes that now more than ever is the right moment to act, JOIN HANDS and support youth. The aim of the project is to create a strong partnership which supports and reinforces the concept of youth social entrepreneurship as a means of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as described in the Europe 2020 Strategy. Youth social entrepreneurship is the method of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems. It fosters wealth for society as a whole, contributes to community development, supports environmental sustainability and produces social capital. The long term project idea The training course “Social entrepreneurship for sustainable growth” is a part of the long term project called “JOINING HANDS for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”. The aim of this project is to create a sustainable network of partners who will collaborate in order to spread, support, reinforce and advocate for the concept of youth social entrepreneurship as a means of sustainable development on local and European level. The network of partners will include different stake holders, youth NGOs, local authorities and social enterprises which will work as the initiators and multipliers of social entrepreneurship among the youth they work with. The specific objectives of the project are: •To explore current situation regarding financial crisis, youth unemployment and social complications and track relevant problems/deficiencies/shortages •To search the legal framework of youth social entrepreneurship in partner countries •To explore the concept of sustainable development and its dimensions (economic, environmental, social - which are in line with the Europe 2020 priorities for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth) •To create a strong and sustainable network of partners and associated partners •To train youth on social entrepreneurship concept and principles •To raise awareness about the need for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth to the wider public •To promote and advocate about youth social entrepreneurship on local and European level •To increase the knowledge, skills and capacities of the partners to continue supporting youth entrepreneurs even after the project is over. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The idea of the training course “Joining hands- Social entrepreneurship for sustainable growth” The training course (TC) “Social entrepreneurship for sustainable growth” will gather together youth in order to explore the principles of social entrepreneurship, paying special attention to the environmental aspect of social entrepreneurship. This means the participants will explore ways on how to sustainably use the environment for the benefit of the society promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. Again participants will develop their action plan for setting up their own social enterprise. “Steps towards youth social sustainability” that addresses the topic of this particular TC. Participants from associated partners are encouraged to participate in the activity too, always giving priority to unemployed youth and youth with fewer opportunities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Methodology The meeting will be based on non-formal education methods, encouraging active participation of young people involved. Some of the methods used will be the following: • Ice-breakers, energisers. • Inputs from experts • Intercultural and experiential learning • Variety of visuals for thematic input • Brainstorming and discussions both in working groups and in plenary.