WISEs4Youth
Partners Albania together with partner organizations from the region and Europe are implementing the new project WISEs for Youth in Western Balkans (WISEs4Youth – Work Integration Social Enterprises). WISEs4Youth is an Erasmus + project which aims to develop training activities for social entrepreneurial skills development targeting potential young social entrepreneurs in Western Balkans.
The project’s main activities during the two years of implementation are; study visits, peer-to-peer events, trainings, and a final toolkit for beneficiaries. Through these activities the project will benefit young potential social entrepreneurs, young people already interested in pursuing entrepreneurial training, and young people who have completed compulsory education and are looking for employment opportunities, offering them the opportunity to acquire knowledge and managerial skills.
The specific objectives of the project:
- Promote youth social entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans region through training and mobility activities (such as study visits).
- Create replicable and sustainable training methodology and modules that will orient and guarantee and effective and targeted training implementation.
- Promote mobility and exchanges between the different project partner countries through study visits organized in successful WISEs or social enterprises.
- Implement structured training activities involving partners and young potential entrepreneurs, through the empirical application of training modules.
- Strengthen the creation of regional WISEs and social enterprise networks in the region, promote the social impact of these businesses, and achieve among others common growth and inclusion of young people.
- Impact measurement from project results (Toolkit).
The implementing partners of the WISEs4Youth project:
European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE) Belgium
Act Group (AG) Croatia
Sent-Slovenian Association for Mental Health (SENT) Slovenia
Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) Serbia
Community Development Institute (CDI) North Macedonia
Partners Albania for Change and Development (PA) Albania
The project is funded by the European Union.
Project Kick-Off meeting
On May 13th, the WISEs4Youth project partners met online for the kick-off meeting to go through the project work packages and to exchange their vision of the project, the next steps, and how to kick off the project activities in the next months.
First transnational project meeting
On September 9th, the project partners met online for their first transnational project meeting to take stock of the activities, led by the consortium since the beginning of the project and to exchange about the project, the latest news, and the next steps. The quality assurance and internal evaluation guide, and the work on the training modules were presented and discussed with the partners.
WIESEs4Youth Project Deliverables
The project partners developed and prepared the first two deliverables in the framework of the WISEs4Youth project, which are two training modules directed to potential future young entrepreneurs in the Western Balkans:
- Curriculum for (training of partners) on Social Enterprises (SE) and Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) – Download here
- Curriculum for impact management and measurement: – Download here
Both curriculums will be used during training sessions implemented in partner countries (AL, RS, MK, HR, SI) aimed at young people who aspire to become social entrepreneurs!
The report on “Training Modules Development” is now published. It aims to explicit the reasoning behind the two training modules’ development process.
The report is available in each respective language of the project partners. Download here in English.
Training for Trainers
The project partners gathered together in Ljubljana during 15-20 January 2023, on the premises of the organization SENT , in a ‘Training for Trainers’ where they were introduced to and discussed the content of the training modules developed, as well as the methodology for transmitting the knowledge gained in the TOT, to the training programs that will take place in each partner countries (Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia) for young people who aim and aspire to become social entrepreneurs!
TRAINING FOR YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IN ALBANIA
Following the TOT in Ljubljana, during the last weeks of March, Partners Albania organized a 5-day training program on “Social Enterprises and WISEs Management” and “Social Impact Measurement and Management”, for young social entrepreneurs in Albania. Through the training program, young social entrepreneurs learned more about social entrepreneurship concepts, the legal framework, and the SEs development in Albania, practiced the development of the business model for their social enterprises, gained knowledge to develop and improve different management aspects of social enterprise, learned and practiced designing their SIMM framework, with the aim to build sustainable social enterprises with a significant social impact. After the training, the young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to gain further practical experience through participation in the study visits organized in social enterprises in WISEs4Youth project partners.
Similar trainings were also implemented by the consortium partners of the WISEs4Youth project in each of their respective countries.
A final report on the training implementations was prepared, involving the results of all 5 implemented trainings in Albania, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Read the Final Report on Training Implementations in English here.
Read the Final Report on Training Implementations in Albanian here.
PEER LEARNING EVENT – “SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A DRIVER OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR YOUTH: EXCHANGING GOOD PRACTICES AND STRENGTHENING LOCAL SUPPORT”
On May 18’th, WISEs4Youth project partners successfully conducted the virtual Peer Learning Event “Social Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Inclusive Growth for Youth: Exchanging Good Practices and Strengthening Local Support”.
This event brought together local and national authorities from the Western Balkans, social entrepreneurs, WISEs and youth leaders to share knowledge, best practices, and experiences on how to build stronger support to social (youth) entrepreneurship, foster social impact, growth, and inclusion.
The participants in the event had the opportunity to explore and learn more about social entrepreneurship, the role of WISEs in the local and national economies, legal frameworks, and Government measures, presented by a group of 7 panelists with representatives from national and local authorities from Albania, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.
Among the panelists was also Ms. Joniada Hito, representative of Tirana Municipality. She shared with the participants the work of Tirana Municipality in support of social entrepreneurship/WISEs, presenting available financial supporting schemes and best practices related to social entrepreneurship.
Also, in interactive sessions, participants discussed the challenges of social enterprises/WISEs in their ecosystems, and opportunities to establish partnerships and develop networks.
Read the deliverables, the peer learning guide which will help you organise such sessions and the evaluation from the session.
Guide for peer-to-peer learning (EN)
Evaluation of the peer-to-peer learning session (EN)
On the 26th of June, Partners Albania for Change and Development organized the first study visit in the frame of the WISEs4Youth project, welcoming 16 incredible participants, including young social entrepreneurs and representatives of partner organizations, for a day filled with inspiration and knowledge-sharing.
During the study visit, young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to explore three Albanian social enterprises and learn about the activities of these enterprises and gain insights of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Albania. They engaged in enriching discussions, exchanged ideas, and witnessed the positive impact these enterprises are making.
The three visited enterprises are:
Te Xhoni Kafe is a social enterprise, a coffee shop that not only serves delicious beverages but also serves as a platform for social inclusion and employment of children/ young people with Down syndrome.
Tirana Green Living is a social entrepreneurship project by the Centre for Culinary Education, focusing on providing affordable food products, promoting social values, community engagement, skills development, and employment opportunities and supporting the local economy, while also emphasizing environmental sustainability through waste reduction and responsible consumption.
Funky Cabins is an innovative social enterprise, an ecological hotel for tourist services, that offers unique and eco-friendly accommodation options, promoting sustainable tourism and contributing to the revitalization of rural areas and the integration of the community through employment.
STUDY VISIT IN SERBIA
During September 10-12, Partners Albania together with three young (potential) Albanian social entrepreneurs, who were also participants of the training on Social Entrepreneurship organized by PA in March-April, joined the second study visit organized in Belgrade, Serbia in the framework of the WISEs4Youth project.
The group of young social entrepreneurs from the Western Balkans visited three successful, inspiring social enterprises, exchanged experiences, and learned more about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Serbia: Nasa Kuca, a social enterprise that supports, integrates, and engages people with development disabilities; CAFE BAR 16, a social enterprise founded by the Center for Youth Integration which provides employment support to young people living and working on the streets (mainly for the Roma community); and LICE ULICE, a social enterprise which supports marginalized groups, aiming their social and economic integration.
STUDY VISIT IN CAKOVEC, CROATIA
Participants from each of the countries where the partner organizations of Wise4Youth project operate are visiting successful social enterprises in each of these countries, exchanging experiences and learning from good practices. The third study visit within the WISEs4Youth project was organized in Cakovec, Croatia, during October 3-5, 2023.
During 3 days, the participants visited 6 social enterprises that engage and employ people from marginalized groups: The Međimurje County Home Care Center, which provides services for the elderly; ACT Konto d.o.o. specialized in providing professional and high-quality bookkeeping and accounting services, education and consulting on financial operations for non-profit and for-profit organizations in Croatia; ACT Printlab d.o.o. a graphic and web design studio, which offers partners (civil society organizations, social enterprises…) professional, high-quality, innovative products and services that follow/respond to the needs of partners (and the community); Socijalna zadruga Human Nova, that employ people with disabilities and other socially excluded people who at Humana Nova create new values from discarded textile items every day and produce new high-quality and innovative products; Lumbago, a massage salon founded in 2022, in Čakovec, which offers classical and medical massage, relaxation massage, foot massage, foot and lower leg massage, and honey massage; and KopriVITA d.o.o. which employ people with disabilities and members of other marginalized social groups to produce food and other products( deserts, cookies, pasta, tea), having nettle as the main ingredient.
STUDY VISIT IN SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA
Within the WISEs4Youth project, young potential social entrepreneurs from Albania and the Western Balkans came together for the fourth study visit organized during 8-10 November in Tetovo-Skopje, North Macedonia.
Embarking their journeys through success, young potential social entrepreneurs visited 3 successful social enterprises:
LICEVLICE (Face to Face), is a social enterprise that consists in the publication and distribution of the magazine Lice v Lice. Its aim is the empowerment, and socio-economic integration of marginalized groups, mainly young people from the Roma community, young people with disabilities, and homeless people, who are integrated into work as magazine sellers on the streets of the main cities of North Macedonia. Lice v Lice is a street magazine for sustainable development that promotes the model of social entrepreneurship. The enterprise also offered other products for sale such as postcards for the new year, and ‘good cards’ which convey different messages through photos, mainly for women empowerment.
SIEC organization with the Inspira Design enterprise. The enterprise was founded by a group of designers who created and re-designed new fashion items and products through the recycling of clothes. The main products were bags and kitchen aprons. The enterprise focused on the promotion of ‘slow fashion’ and ethical consumerism and empowerment of women and young people from the Roma community through employment.
KRIK is a center for youth activism established and led by young people. KRIK strives to encourage greater youth participation, youth activism, and fosters young people to be more included in the policy-making process on local and national levels. KRIK organizes summer camps, offers occupational therapy and organizes various activities such as singing, dancing, theater courses, etc. with a focus on young people with disabilities. In addition to other activities, the organization also operates as a social enterprise for the production of jewelry by young people with disabilities.
The participants had the opportunity to visit “The Social Enterprises Centre” a centre designed to function as an incubator for supporting existing and new social enterprises and civil society organizations that have economic activities.
Also, ARNO, an organization that works for the development of social innovation and an important actor of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in North Macedonia presented their projects and initiatives in the framework of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
STUDY VISIT IN LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
Within the WISEs4Youth project, aspiring young (potential) social entrepreneurs from Albania and the Western Balkan region gathered for the last study visit organized from 4-6 December in Ljubljana-Kranj, Slovenia.
Embarking their journeys through success, young potential social entrepreneurs visited 3 successful social enterprises, WISEs:
The visited social enterprises are:
Dobrovita is a social company that focuses on the rehabilitation and employment of people with long-term mental disabilities. They operate in different activity sectors such as cleaning services, land surveying, landscaping, and product assembling. For Dobrovita, people are the essence to be successful in the market, and their specialty is the diversity of the employee structure, as among more than 180 employees they combine experts (mentors) from various fields and people who are difficult to employ.
Kovacnica is a coworking space and business incubator supporting entrepreneurs across Slovenia and not only. Through programs, workshops, lectures, and events related to entrepreneurship they support the community in starting and thriving successful business initiatives. Moreover, the Kovacnica spaces are available for aspiring entrepreneurs to utilize as their first offices during the initial stages of their entrepreneurial journey, leveraging the tools and facilities offered within the premises.
Druga Violina, is a social enterprise, a restaurant in the center of Ljubljana that employs people with special needs. They actively participate in all facets of restaurant operations, encompassing culinary preparation, service delivery to clients, thereby providing a distinctive and memorable experience for their guests.
Also, it was visited a social inclusion and day center, programs and activities of ŠENT – Slovensko združenje za duševno zdravje, an NGO established to aid individuals with mental health issues, those in temporary mental distress, as well as their relatives. The Association is active in the fields of social welfare, health, education, employment and others.
Western Balkans Social Economy All-Stars Compound
The Western Balkans Social Economy All-Stars Compound presents successful social business models and their variety. It presents a short introduction of the social economy context in each visited country as well as the visited enterprises within the project, as a portfolio of best practices which also complement the training modules.
Read the WB Social Economy All-Stars Compound in English here.
Read the WB Social Economy All-Stars Compound in Albanian here.
WISEs4Youth project final conference on “Support policies towards youth social entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans and beyond”
On the 19/03/24, the final conference of the WISEs4Youth project took place in Brussels and on Zoom. The conference focused on project’s outcomes presentation, on EU support policies towards youth social entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans but also existing national and local initiatives and support measures towards youth entrepreneurship and social economy development in general and on young people’s testimonies and main takeaways from their participation to the training courses and study visits in WISEs and social enterprises.
More information and presentations, click here.
Read the summary of project’s final conference here.
The Final Toolkit of the WISEs4Youth project
The Final Toolkit represents a compendium of lessons learned to improve the sustainability of project results also after the end of the project implementation period. It serves not only for the project sustainability but also as a pilot experience that can motivate different stakeholders and drive similar actions for different topics, in other EU countries and in the close neighborhood.
The intention is to secure the longevity of project outcomes by empowering young potential future social entrepreneurs and other potential stakeholders in social economy entrepreneurship to replicate, adopt, or change, and apply the tools, strategies, and recommendations from this project. This approach facilitates the formulation, development, and execution of prosperous projects by other potential external to the project stakeholders and within a wider framework.
The final Toolkit is available in the 6 languages of the consortium partners. Read here the Toolkit in English.
Sustainability Roadmap: A Guide for Young Entrepreneurs to Build Sustainable Social Enterprises
The Sustainability Roadmap represents a practical framework tailored specifically for young individuals navigating the complexities of social entrepreneurship. By providing clear and targeted implementation steps, it equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge to embark on their entrepreneurial journey with confidence and purpose.
The roadmap provides a guide with simple steps on how to build sustainable social entrepreneurship and includes best practices in WB6 and EU to be tackled as models for replication. Moreover, insights gathered from representatives of social enterprises through surveys enrich the roadmap with invaluable real-world perspectives. The roadmap presents a series of actionable steps for young entrepreneurs to consider and adopt, guiding them in the establishment of social enterprises that are not only dedicated to their social mission but also deeply ingrained in sustainability principles designed to achieve long-term financial viability, thereby fostering lasting positive impact within their communities and beyond.
Read the Sustainability Roadmap in English here.