Enterprise Youth Future: Empowering Youth Workers
INPRO
“Enterprise Youth Future” was an Erasmus+ project aimed at equipping youth workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to foster entrepreneurial mindsets among young people from rural and remote areas. This mobility project took place between the 27th of May and the 2nd of June, 2018, in Rzeszów, Poland, and was coordinated, organized, and hosted by the International Projects’ Association “INPRO.”
The project brought together 24 youth workers from eight different European countries, all of whom were involved in NGOs or educational institutions in their home countries. Each of the partner organizations delegated three participants, forming a diverse group ready to exchange ideas and experiences.
Creating a Welcoming Space for Learning
The first day of the training began with a session led by Beata Szmuc, Vice Chairman of INPRO. She facilitated icebreakers to help participants get to know each other and create a positive, collaborative atmosphere. Later in the day, INPRO’s Chairman, Radu Mirea, introduced the core themes of the project: entrepreneurship, youth work, and the challenges faced by young people in remote areas. A key part of the discussion was understanding the differences between formal, non-formal, and informal education, all of which play a role in youth development.
Deep Dive into Social Economy and Start-Ups
On Monday, expert Bohdan Kamiński introduced the concept of social economy. With this foundation, participants were divided into groups and tasked with designing start-ups focused on supporting local communities. These practical exercises helped the youth workers understand how entrepreneurship can positively impact social change.
The workshops continued the following day, and in the afternoon, the participants took part in a city rally organized by INPRO project manager Elsa Daniels. Using the Action Bound app, participants explored local businesses in Rzeszów, learning about the entrepreneurial landscape of the city.
Open Space and Intercultural Exchange
Wednesday’s session was driven by Open Space Technology, where participants created their own agenda, focusing on entrepreneurship, NGO work, and youth initiatives. In the afternoon, they prepared for the intercultural night, an event that coincided with INPRO’s local Open Café initiative. This gave the participants an opportunity to showcase their traditions, share food, and connect with the local community.
Business Simulation and Field Trip
On Thursday, participants were introduced to a business simulation game by Ela Szczepaniak from REVAS, a company that develops educational tools for business training. Through this online simulation, participants ran a virtual travel agency, learning key entrepreneurial skills like cost management, customer satisfaction, and competition. Some participants were so inspired by the game that they purchased it to use in their future work with youth.
Friday saw a field trip to the Bieszczady Mountains region, where participants visited local enterprises that promote cultural heritage. Stops included the Regional Office of Social Economy Support in Strzyżów, a Chocolate Factory in Korczyna, and the School of Disappearing Professions in Uherce Mineralne. The day also included a visit to the picturesque Solina lake, where participants learned how local businesses thrive thanks to the region’s tourism.
Final Reflections and Looking Ahead
The final day of the project focused on the Erasmus+ programme and the Youthpass, giving participants tools to reflect on what they had learned during the training. They evaluated the project’s success and shared their personal takeaways.
In addition to the structured training, participants experienced INPRO’s local work firsthand by attending weekly events like Monday Stories and Open Café. These activities provided further opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and interaction with the local community.
A Successful Collaboration
“Enterprise Youth Future” would not have been possible without the hard work and collaboration of numerous organizations and local partners. A huge thank you to our Erasmus+ partners and everyone involved for making this project such a success.
Project partners:
Bulgarian Youth Forum from Bulgaria
Urbana Mladez from Croatia
Köz-Pont Ifjúsági Egyesület from Hungary
Young Effect from Italy
Socialas Inovacuas Centrs from Latvia
Europe Link Centre from Macedonia
International Projects’ Association “INPRO” from Poland
Agrupamento de Escolas de Vilela from Portugal
Local partners:
