“A land with no map” - Training Course on Supporting Youth Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Employability through Transnational Youth Initiatives

Training Course

17-22 February 2015 | Konstancin-Jeziorna (near Warsaw), Poland
Training course offers those who work with young people the opportunity to share and experience useful approaches, techniques and tools; helping to evoke, develop and support entrepreneurial and innovative attitudes and skills in young people.

This training is the second course offered by the Polish National Agency for those supporting youth on entrepreneurship. The first of these run in Poland in September 2013 used the metaphor of "new cheese" inspired by the book "Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. This programme will use the metaphor of "a journey without a map".

We believe that current situation in Europe and challenges young people face nowadays calls for change of paradigm of thinking about one’s own future.
The situation requires from young people ability to be flexible, to find and make use of different opportunities, take initiative, ability to build on their own potential and turn their ideas into reality. They need to develop skills to put their ideas into practice and take initiative to adapt to rapidly changing and challenging reality.

Aims and objectives of the course:

The main aim is to equip youth leaders and youth workers with approaches, techniques and tools to evoke, develop and support entrepreneurial attitudes and skills of young people and help them to be active through Transnational Youth Initiatives.

• build a broader understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation with regard to the challenges facing young people
• introduce methods and approaches of supporting young people in developing their entrepreneurial attitude,
• raise interest in carrying out projects of Transnational Youth Initiatives as a way of developing initiative and entrepreneurial skills and employability in young people,
• share and develop ideas for generating Transnational Youth Initiatives and facilitating cooperation among participants,
• create space for building partnerships.

During the programme we will use the following definition of entrepreneurship:

"Entrepreneurship and a sense of initiative refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action. It includes creativity, innovation and risk-taking as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives."
(2006 Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning)

After the training participants will be able:

• use various tools and approaches to wake up a spirit of initiative and entrepreneurialism in young people,
• support young people on their entrepreneurial journey in the context of ambiguity and uncertainty,
• cooperate with young people in creating ideas for local projects that can be carried out in the frame of Transnational Youth Initiatives in the Erasmus+ Programme,
• have new contacts and possible partners for future cooperation.

The training will be based on the principles and practice of non-formal education taking into account participants’ needs, motivations and experiences. A variety of methods will be used to allow involvement of participants with different learning styles and to ensure a balance between theory and practice.

Target group of the course:

Participants: about 25 participants from all of the Programme Countries:

• who work with young people to wake-up and develop initiative, entrepreneurship and innovation thay may come from community groups, NGOs, community centers, youth clubs, schools, public institutions, cultural institution,
• willing to cooperate with young people in preparing and carrying out Transnational Youth Initiatives,
• committed to engaging in learning processes, discussions and activities
• able to communicate easily and work in English.
• committed to attend for the full duration of the course (4 working days, 17.02. and 22.02. are days for travel),
• are residents of the (Youth in Action) Programme Countries,
• age: over 18.

Related link: www.salto-youth.net