Description
The project addresses the need to promote youth entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment and bring together NGOs and institutions to support the cause. The project aims at boosting the applicant’s capacity for cross-sectoral partnerships in support of youth entrepreneurship. First, a desk study of the current status of business infrastructure in the towns of Ruse, Haskovo and Dupnitsa will be carried out. Second, 10 of the applicant’s team will go on a 2-day study visit to the partner’s business incubator. Third, meetings with the stakeholders will be organized to map their attitudes and capacity and create an integrated action plan. Next, good practices related to youth entrepreneurship will be shared during the Youth Entrepreneur Exchange. Finally, a public awareness raising campaign will be launched. The project will benefit young people, related NGOs, local authorities and the public. The partner will contribute with its experience in business incubators.
Summary of project results
Youth unemployment is a major issue in both Bulgaria and the EU. This issue has been also identified in the towns where Kauzi Foundation has branches and where the project has been implemented. What is more, it has been addressed as a major priority in some municipal programme documents. However, youth entrepreneurship has not been considered as a possible solution to the problem and this is what made the project of Kauzi Foundation necessary. 6 surveys of the current status of youth entrepreneurship were carried out under the project in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Rousse, Haskovo, Silistra, Stara Zagora and Veliko Tarnovo. A good practice was researched, namely, the experience of Proactive Foundation (Serbia) in creation and development of innovative services for new entrepreneurs such as the business incubator for the creative industry in the city of Niche. The following representatives of the stakeholders were trained in each of the 6 target cities: local administration, chambers of commerce, schools, universities, NGOs, young people, businesses and the media. The training workshops were on 4 main topics: 1) Methodology of the Youth Entrepreneurship Exchange for consultations of new entrepreneurs; 2) Engagement of young people in NGO activities; 3) Work with the institutions; 4) Establishing partnerships. In addition, a public event took place in each of the 6 target cities to draw public attention to the topic of youth entrepreneurship as a way to solve social challenges. What is more, an information campaign was held to promote the work of Kauzi Foundation and youth entrepreneurship in general. The project helped Kauzi Foundation raise its capacity in the area of youth entrepreneurship in cities and towns outside of Sofia by establishing long-standing partnerships and obtaining in-depth knowledge of the target groups and the current situation in 6 Bulgarian cities. The project helped draw the attention of the main organizations and institutions and they had their capacity for work related to youth entrepreneurship raised. Following the events and the information campaign organized, youth entrepreneurship was recognized as a way to solve social challenges.
Summary of bilateral results