BC4ESE project results: after 3 years of dedicated work :)
After three years of dedicated work, the Building Capacities for Innovation in the Eco-Social Entrepreneurship Education (BC4ESE) project has successfully concluded, leaving a lasting impact on youth education and entrepreneurship across Europe and the Western Balkans. This ERASMUS+ initiative brought together partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, and Cyprus to develop innovative non-formal learning methodologies, ultimately culminating in the launch of the Eco-SE-E-Lab, an interactive E-learning platform designed to foster eco-social entrepreneurship among young people.
Empowering Youth Through Digital Learning
The primary goal of the BC4ESE project was to address the growing need for digital youth education by equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration necessary to engage in eco-social entrepreneurship. By integrating game-based learning, role-model education, and interactive digital tools, the project developed a robust educational framework tailored to youth workers, educators, and young aspiring entrepreneurs.
Key Achievements of the BC4ESE Project
Throughout its implementation, the project delivered several impactful outputs:
- Interactive E-Book on Eco-Social Entrepreneurship: A comprehensive study analyzing the needs, challenges, and opportunities in the eco-social entrepreneurship landscape across partner countries
- Educational E-Book with Gamified Learning Modules: A guide for educators on utilizing gamification to teach eco-social entrepreneurship, featuring practical examples and interactive methodologies
- Eco-SE-E-Lab – Interactive Web Platform: A digital hub offering 18 gamified educational modules, online challenges, and digital resources to engage young learners in entrepreneurship with a focus on sustainability
- Online Non-Formal Education Training for Youth Workers: A two-day program designed to equip youth practitioners with innovative tools for delivering digital entrepreneurship education
Impact and Reach
The impact of BC4ESE has been remarkable:
- Over 200,000 individuals reached through dissemination activities.
- More than 4,000 stakeholders from public, private, and civil sectors engaged.
- 87 youth practitioners trained in new digital learning methodologies.
- 89 young people involved in pilot testing of the Eco-SE-E-Lab platform
- 265 participants attended 7 multiplier events across partner countries
By fostering collaboration between organizations in both EU Program and Partner Countries, BC4ESE successfully bridged educational gaps and created a sustainable ecosystem for digital youth education and entrepreneurship.
What’s Next?
While the project has officially concluded, its outputs will continue to be available and promoted. The Eco-SE-E-Lab platform remains accessible to youth organizations, educators, and young entrepreneurs looking to explore the world of eco-social entrepreneurship.
In the coming years, project partners aim to integrate these digital tools into future EU projects, local entrepreneurship initiatives, and youth education programs. Additionally, the resources developed will be shared widely through Erasmus+ platforms, SALTO Youth, and other European digital learning hubs.
Final Thoughts
BC4ESE stands as a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in education. By leveraging digital technology, gamification, and cross-border cooperation, the project has laid the groundwork for a new generation of eco-social entrepreneurs committed to sustainability and social impact.
For more information and to explore the E-learning platform, visit Eco-SE-E-Lab.
New partnership: Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC)
Starting 2025 with a New Partnership! 🙂
We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American organization Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC), and in the coming period, we will work together to connect the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of Serbia and the United States. Our goal is to create an environment where young people can improve their skills, start their entrepreneurial journeys, and connect with and transform their communities.
Our aim is for this partnership to bring new opportunities for young leaders by providing them with resources and a platform for skill development and international networking.
Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC) is an organization that connects leaders and entrepreneurs from various sectors to promote positive change worldwide, especially among youth.
Our members and participants in our project activities will have the opportunity to participate in EGC programs and access the resources and mentoring platforms that this organization offers.
A special aspect of this collaboration is the fact that both organizations have previously implemented projects funded by the BOLD program, which has further strengthened our ties and created the opportunity for this partnership and further joint work.
Details about the programs and projects to be implemented through this partnership will be available soon on the official websites of the organizations.
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KreNI- our jubilee in Niš!
80 Participants | 7 Countries
11 Partners | 8 Ideas | 2 Awards
The 10th KreNI Conference was successfully held on December 6th and 7th, 2024, at Hotel Ambasador in Niš!
We celebrated a decade of supporting creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment!
This year, the conference gathered esteemed international experts to explore the theme of the #Proximity concept, its impact on modern times, and practices that can shape the creative present of Niš.
Over 80 participants had the opportunity to collaborate with experts from Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria, and Italy for the first time in Niš and, with mentorship support during the conference, design and present their initiative or project draft to a jury!
At the official opening, participants and organizers were welcomed by Snežana, President of Young Ambassadors; Mr. Dragoslav Pavlović, Mayor of Niš; Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Sammelin (Sweden), H.E. Pierre Cochard (France); and representatives of partner organizations, such as Ms. Clare Sears Wood (British Council), Ms. Madelyn Mahon (U.S. Embassy), Mr. Roberto Cincotta (Italian Institute for Culture), and Ms. Maja Španjević Kešelj (Embassy of Portugal). The opening sparked a dynamic exchange of ideas on sustainable urban development, the #Proximity concept, and urban project management, reflecting on areas such as architecture, arts, and IT that complement or enable #Proximity solutions.
#KreNI10 consisted of three parts: expert masterclasses, workshops, and the idea development process, as well as a panel discussion #KreNItalks, giving participants the opportunity to hear about current best practices and challenges related to the implementation of the Proximity concept in our community while also designing, presenting, and advocating for their individual or team ideas.
The panel discussion, “Is the Proximity Concept from Another Planet?” connected the perspectives of Johanna Alkan Olsson from Lund University (Sweden), Marko Todorović from Semrén & Månsson International, and Ivana Bogdanović Protić from the University of Niš. The discussion was skillfully moderated by Ivana Marjanović, professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš. The panelists emphasized that both globally and locally, the focus is on urban sustainability, inclusive urban solutions, and the practical implementation of the #Proximity concept. The panel concluded with the significant potential Niš has in applying the concept of accessibility to public services, sports, and cultural content in urban areas within a 15-minute walking or biking distance.
After two intense days of working on their ideas, each team of 5 to 7 participants prepared a 3-minute presentation to convince the jury that they were the winning initiative of this year’s conference. We had 8 teams and just one jury 🙂 The jury consisted of Andreas Bryngelson, Business Development Expert from Lund University, Lidija Stefanović Nikolić, Chief Urban Planner for the City of Niš, Tijana Jugović, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, Vladimir Jovanović, representative of the Tourism Office Niš, and Sandra Dejanović, Director of the Alta Bank branch in Niš.
All teams focused on segments of the Proximity concept and found ways to make everyday life more accessible and easier for citizens, especially vulnerable social groups, shaped by their ideas.
The winning idea of the 10th KreNI Conference was “E-ride”, and the award for the team will be a study visit to the Startup Weekend Festival in Ohrid, along with mentorship support for further developing their idea. The special award from the City of Niš was given to the team “Take it back”!
After nine successful conferences, Young Ambassadors and all KreNI alumni have witnessed more than 50 successful projects, and this year we welcome 8 new ideas!
KreNI is the first and most influential creativity festival in southeastern Serbia, bringing together innovative creative professionals and experts from around the world. KreNI contributes to empowering young people and engaging them in mapping and solving challenges in their communities.
Stay with us as we continue to inspire, innovate, and create change!
P.S. In the upcoming period, we will share more about the KreNI Startup project, which we are implementing with partners from North Macedonia. This project aims for the co-production of two festivals and connecting the entrepreneurial sectors of both countries. This year, at the 10th KreNI conference, we hosted 10 participants from North Macedonia, networked them with young people from Serbia, and encouraged them to realize that good ideas have no borders, only our support! 🙂
Rural Rise
RURAL RiSE is a European project bringing together seven partners from Italy, Serbia, Spain, and Belgium. The project’s goal is to develop targeted strategies that empower unemployed youth and women, preventing their migration from rural areas. One of the key approaches to achieving this objective is improving the quality of education, training, skill acquisition, and reskilling programs offered by public and private organizations in rural communities.
Our mission is to foster sustainable development in rural areas and create green jobs for young people in these regions. Through pivotal initiatives, such as mapping resources and methodologies for green job creation, we strengthen collaboration between local authorities and civil society organizations.
We advocate for the adoption of local action plans focused on green employment while facilitating the international exchange of best practices. Additionally, we support youth social entrepreneurship to tackle critical challenges like unemployment, depopulation, and social exclusion, building a promising future for rural communities.
How Will We Achieve This?
- Mapping and Enhancing Opportunities: Identifying and improving existing opportunities, resources, and methodologies to promote green jobs for youth in rural areas.
- Capacity Building: Strengthening the capacities and cooperation of local authorities and civil society organizations.
- Promoting Local Action Plans: Encouraging the adoption of local action plans for the sustainable development of rural communities.
- Fostering International Collaboration: Stimulating international cooperation and the exchange of best practices.
- Empowering Youth: Supporting young people to launch their own social entrepreneurship initiatives.
- Addressing Key Challenges: Tackling youth unemployment and combating depopulation in rural areas.
Upcoming Project Activities
- Research and Analysis: Exploring practices, opportunities, resources, and methodologies that enhance education, training, and skill development for unemployed individuals in rural areas, with a special focus on youth and women.
- International Capacity-Building Workshops: Organizing three international workshops, one in each municipality represented by partner organizations, culminating in a final event in Brussels.
- Development of Training Tools: Creating training tools for organizations engaged in social entrepreneurship and local authorities.
- Online Training for Local Authorities: Providing digital training sessions tailored for local government representatives.
- Drafting a Local Action Plan: Formulating a comprehensive action plan to guide sustainable rural development.
Please check additional information on The Rural Rise
SOCIAL ECONOMY ADVOCACY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
Last March we had the chance to join our Western Balkans partners in Podgorica (Montenegro) in the framework of the WB SEA project for a training on advocacy processes led by young people under the framework of social economy policies. It was not only a great opportunity to meet each other and foster collaborations at the cross-country level but also a safe space to discuss and learn from each other local context priorities at fostering social economy and social entrepreneurship in their territories.
From Young Ambassadors we strongly believe in the power of young generations in shaping the society responses, thus advocacy training is key in order to structure and empower the actions to be led together with the local ecosystems. During the training we could learn form messaging stakeholders, advocacy goals definition, policy led research and monitoring and evaluation of campaigns among others.
The training tested a recently created tool for Advocacy Action Planning, resulting from the sessions concrete proposals designed at each of the Balkan territories which will be assessed later on by each country member and integrated in the future project outcomes.
Another activity we had in the previous period was the School of Social Economy for Youth in Niš.
The participants were introduced to the concept of social economy and acquired the knowledge needed to develop an innovative idea that responds to challenges in the community, turning it into a sustainable social enterprise. The “School of Social Economy” was developed within the Western Balkans Youth Social Economy Alliance – WB SEA project, which is supported by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.
Partners on the project: Diesis Network, ARNO, ADP-Zid, CDP “Globus”, Partners Albania for Change and Development and Lens.
More information about the WB SEA project on WB SEA – Diesis
BC4ESE: Published Eco-social entrepreneurship analysis: needs, obstacles and good practices
The project “Building capacities for innovation in the eco-social entrepreneurship education”, in which the Young Ambassadors participate as partners, aims to build capacities for the promotion of eco-social entrepreneurship (ESP) and the development of tools and methodology of informal education. That it will encourage young people to get involved in ESP through the development of their soft, entrepreneurial and digital skills, thereby enabling behavioral changes for individual preferences, cultural values and awareness of sustainable development and lifestyles.
Eco-social entrepreneurship analysis: needs, obstacles and good practices is a document that aims to look at the Eco-Social Economy in European countries and partner countries of the Western Balkans. For each country, the document focuses on:
a.) Research and analysis of the current state of eco-social entrepreneurship in partner countries;
b.) Investigation of obstacles for the development of eco-social projects and activities through social entrepreneurship;
c.) Examples of good practice of existing eco-social entrepreneurs in partner countries, the EU and the world;
The e-book “Eco-social entrepreneurship analysis: needs, obstacles and good practices” with accompanying video content can be found at the link: https://ecosocent.eu/sr/analiza-eko-socijalnog-preduzetnistva-potrebe-prepreke-i-dobre-prakse/