Enter in Entrepreneurship-From idea to action is a project which support 102 youth workers, 11 organizations and over 5000 young people (members/activists/young people of whole consortium) to get empowered through information and concrete tools in entrepreneurship education in local and international level. All partners will get involved and share responsibilities and tasks in series of activities planned in local and international level regarding preparation, implementation and dissemination of the results of the project. The project fits perfectly with the objectives of the European policies in the fields of education, training and youth since it tackles a very sensitive topic such as increasing employment opportunities for young people through improving their competencies and soft skills. Other topics are relevant within the project such as: intercultural learning, youth participation, inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities, active citizenship.

<< Background >>Volunteering is a very important activity for youngsters to whom they can acquire additional knowledge and competencies, which will increase their opportunities in the labor market. Volunteering is a tool for social change and fosters youth participation. Therefore, this project was very important for the future of youngsters in partners countries and offered mixed alternatives for youth workers, partners and young people.<< Objectives >>This project objective was to increase youth potential in civic education and especially volunteerism topic through capacity building actions targeting youth workers who work with young people with fewer opportunities in local and European level. Also, our objective was to increase the quality of youth work through exchanging of experiences and building up sustainable partnership among partners of the consortium and other NGO-s and institutions in respective countries.<< Implementation >>The implementation of the project was organized in a period of 18 months with the participation of 5 organizations from 5 countries. During the project, six activities were organized, of which one is kick-off meeting, three mobilities, the preparatory phase for the establishment of Volunteer Hubs, after which we implemented local activities. During the project more than 7000 hours of volunteer work were realized.<< Results >>During the project, the following results were achieved: 1) enabled the participation of five hundred dozen in local activities, 2) organized three mobilities in two countries; 3) five volunteer HUB-s established; 4) strengthened knowledge and capacities of over 100 participants in the project; 5) Strengthened volunteerism and improved the area of volunteerism through the formation of strategic directions of action and the establishment of management structures. More than 2000 youth get benefit.

Researches show that between 92 and 94 million adults in the EU – i.e. 22 % to 23 % of Europeans aged over 15 – are involved in volunteering. A Eurobarometer survey published in April 2015, revealed that the most common areas for volunteering are charity, humanitarian and development aid (44 %); education, training or sport (40 %), and culture or art (15 %). Their activities are usually aimed at a local community (66 %) or the volunteer’s country as a whole (27 %). Cross-border volunteering remains modest, with only 7 % of activities being aimed at another EU country, and 11 % at other parts of the world.Project’s overall Aim: Support for social engagement of young people, youth workers and youth organisations through volunteering and capacity building actions with direct impact to boost active citizenship, inclusion, cross sectoral cooperation and quality of youth work in the local communities. The project is a continues cooperation of the approved project Volunteering Connecting Communities enriched with more actions and valuable tools to be used in the local level. Volunteering helps citizens to connect with others in their local communities who may be from entirely different backgrounds. It creates bonds and shared identities that go beyond superficial differences that might otherwise seem important. Volunteering also provides a meaningful way of grappling with social problems – for example, reducing social isolation or improving mental health – for both the volunteer and the communities being supported the volunteering.The theory of change we would like to propose is a combination of tools in local and European level. Each local campaign planned in the local community would promote volunteering concept as effective ways to normalize daily life.Objectives: • To build capacities of partner CSOs working with young people with fewer opportunities, their beneficiaries and volunteers on volunteering and its qualitative management• To develop further and support existing local volunteering infrastructures (volunteers Hubs) through cross sectorial approach • To plan and implement awareness raising campaign on promotion and values of volunteer work in local communities• To share best practices, exchange “know how” and establishing bridges of closer cooperation with various stakeholdersThe final project beneficiaries (people in local communities, elderly, minorities, and people with disabilities) will directly benefit from developed capacities of target group, as these capacities will enable more quality identification of needs, planning, implementation and securing the support of volunteering programmes focused on improving the quality of their lives. Therefore, the partner’s consortium expects to have a positive impact and to improve planning and implementation of quality volunteering programmes focused at local communities by achieving the following action results and outcomes in support of overall aim and specific action objectives.

The situation of Youth in Western Balkans is under constant change. Main issues the young citizens are facing are related to job finding and individual development to improve their living conditions. The situation is particularly difficult to youth with fewer possibilities and young girls. During years of work with youth from poor families we identified as main concern the lack of information and education programs. We also observed that youth with fewer possibilities are more inventive and willing to develop due to life necessity. They are more motivated and driven to work hard and succeed when they are given an opportunity. There are very few stories of such youth to take as model in Western Balkan countries that have a long way to reach European values. We have their top priority to give opportunities to young talented people from low income families and/or with disabilities to develop and become the model and instructor of their peers in their own countries. Young man and women with fewer possibilities have to be informed and guided in new development of their countries, of their way to become European members and what the future as European citizens will be. They need to be oriented and instructed, gaining knowledge and skills to be actively involved firstly in their own community and country, so they can develop themselves in good European citizens. This cannot be done by only handing out information they cannot understand. It is necessary a serious capacity building work and presentation of good practices of their peers, providing them with practical role models in how to get involved in society. The project focuses in giving opportunities to youth workers, especially youth with fewer opportunities, to gain skills, knowledge, connections and experiences in inclusive social enterprise establishment as a development opportunity for themselves and their peers. It addresses the need for opportunities for self-development, integrity and inclusion in society without discrimination because of their economic or social status. Youth with fewer possibilities in Western Balkan feel hopeless and confused because of the economic and social difficulties they face. They feel lost in a world that closes doors to education for those with the “inadequate” status or with disabilities. In accordance with European Youth strategy, the consortium will engage in information, education and training of youth with fewer possibilities to gain social entrepreneurship skills and knowledge in becoming active citizens fully prepared to build their future in the European society. The project aims to include youth workers and youth with fewer possibilities as well as a 50% participation of women.It will blend together capacity building, youth exchange, network building, good practices and non-formal learning, to empower youth with fewer possibilities to overcome social barriers, and initiating inclusive social initiatives.

Youth Entrepreneurship Education and Skills (YEeS) is a project designed to empower and develop capacities of young people and youth workers. The EntreComp framework and the non-formal education are the pillars upon which this intervention will build capacities, inspire young people, raise awareness on the benefits and promote Youth Entrepreneurship through local and national stakeholders in the consortium. The concept of this project emerges from the actual need of young people, especially the disadvantaged ones that face many challenges in fields like education, employment or inclusion and eventually hinder them from reaching their full potential. Through this project we will give them practical tools on how to develop competencies at the individual level that can expand their possibilities and bring positive change in their life and the communities they live in.The objective of this project is to promote entrepreneurship as a competence and foster youth entrepreneurship education through the non-formal education methodology. While primary targeting youth, young people with fewer opportunities and youth workers, a high number of stakeholders will be engaged in the project implementation. The intellectual project outputs (research, manual, various visibility products) will guide, facilitate and promote youth entrepreneurship education within the project but also amplify the outcomes of the project in the long term. YEeS will provide an enabling space for youth to enrich their understanding and youth entrepreneurship, to discuss and share experiences with peers from other countries and develop methods tailored to their needs for knowledge acquisition. More than 1000 young people, youth workers and stakeholders from 5 countries will be engaged in this project.