The most
important objective of the project "Coaching Young Entrepreneurs -
Providing Support in Making the First Step" is to provide non-formal
training to youth workers in order to enhance their capacities and skills to be
able to motivate youth in taking the initiative of starting its own business
and making a positive transition to the work field.
The specific objectives of the FIRST STEP project are:
• To explore current situation regarding financial crisis and
youth unemployment
• To search the legal framework of youth entrepreneurship in
partner countries
• To create a strong and sustainable network of partners and
associated partners
• To train youth on entrepreneurship concept and principles
• To promote and advocate about youth entrepreneurship on
local and European level
• To increase the knowledge, skills and capacities of the
partners to continue supporting youth entrepreneurs even after the project is
over.
FIRST STEP
project gave opportunity for participants to enhance their professional and
personal competence by engaging in multicultural group work.
FIRST STEP
brought really diverse group of people coming from Central, Western, Southwest,
Southeast Europe and Caucasia. They did come together to learn and share their
knowledge, ideas. Networking is one of the power that bring people for
inspiration to go further, to make first steps and not being afraid of making
mistakes. Sharing common challenges, showing achievements and just being a part
of diverse group made this project most memorable and created a bug family.
After the
training course participants have transferred their knowledge, skills and new
attitudes to their home institutions and their own learners. They become ambassadors of entrepreneurship
and shared their experience with others.
Hasan Haj
(Cyprus) is sharing his thoughts and speech that he was inspired to give to his
fellows FIRST STEPers after few months:
Well, here is my speech on paper.
(F)abulous & Fantastic
(I)nteresting & Incredible
(R)andom
(S)miles shooter(s)
(T)iring and challenging
(S)uccess and satisfaction
(T)houghtful
(E)ntertaining
(P)rouductive
(P)urpousful
(R)ecognizable
(O)n the way
(J)oyful
(E)nd of first step
(C)elebrate creativity of diversity
(T)rut the magic of new beginnings
Every start has an end, and new beginnings will start again,
trust the magic of new beginning, live the experience, love it, learn from it
and keep moving, learn from each other, support each other and respect.
We did it, the first step is done. We all did it, it took
one week but yes, we all did it, and we proved that everyone can do it, anyone,
anywhere and anytime. But wait for a moment guys, it’s a marathon run, be strong
and patient. Life is so simple, we love to complicate things and choose the
hard way to do things. We need to work hard and get the things done, we don’t
want the easy way and to do what is easy, we want to do what is needed and
necessary. Ideas are amazing, and the world full of great ideas, but the thing
is to make these ideas realty, this is will be fabulous.
The week came to an end, I was amazed that 40 strangers met
on 8/11/2015 in Tasiana Hotel in Limassol Cyprus, and in one week was enough to
become a family, not like a family, we became a family that the members don’t
want to separate. Different nationalities, religions, colors, backgrounds, we
became a family and we accepted each other, accepted diversity and learned from
each other differences and experiences. We use one thing to be connected
family, one simple thing that its forgotten these days, one thing that people
know very well that it is the solution for many problems, this thing is
RESPECT, respect for humanity, for being human being with rights, right to be
respected, to be different, to be accepted.
For you who were wondering why I’m too kind and sound like
mum many times I would say that materials come and go, but with the emotions,
feelings, and memories we feel better. Imagine the world run by mums, mums that
love and give unconditionally. Don’t you think the world will be better place?
I’m sure it will. I hope I left the project with leaving an impact and 40
smiles shooter all over the place. Each one can shoot smiles the world needs
smiles shooters not bullets, bombs of love and mercy.
Random thoughts from the week
·
We don’t need to know everything as individuals.
If we know everything we will not need each other.
·
Let’s stay united for the humanity, United we
stand, divided we fall. Alone you can go fast, together we can go far.
·
Never underestimate the power of your thoughts
and your knowledge. Whenever you have a thought, write a note, the biggest
dreams start from one small thought
·
Be smiles shooters and positivity bombs 24/7
·
Do not try to copy others, be inspired by them
learn from them and improve yourself to be you
·
Keep surprising yourself and learn more, the
moment you think you know everything is the moment that you know nothing
·
I was amazed that I was able to build 40 houses
in one week. 40 people are equal to 40 houses.
·
Time flies and we left with memories, one week
passed like one day, this is what happens when you have great time with amazing
company and great people.
·
We celebrated diversity, we accepted difference,
we provided our uniqueness to each other, and we respected the privacy of
everyone and each one of us.
·
We can all win, there is a place for everyone
and the cake is enough for all of us to eat.
·
Let’s stay connected, let’s stay united, let’s
make a difference and make the world better place
·
We were here for a reason; we were ready now to
take part of this project, it’s the right time for us to take off to the sky.
Thank Yous
- Thank you
Dorea Educational Institute
guys for the chance to be part of the project, thank you for the effort, the
energy and the love.
- Special thanks to
Justina Pluktaite, thank
you for being there as a friend before being trainer.
- Thank you
Marko Gazivoda for being
great coach, inspiring and challenging.
- Thanks to everyone and anyone that did something to support
this project and making it real.
- And last, Thank you guys, thank you for inspiring me,
accepting me to be part of unforgettable week, sharing with me the creativity
of diversity. Thank you for allowing me to share my personal experiences with
you, if I inspired each one of you with one thing I'm sure you will inspire
hundreds of people, I shoot smiles to 40 people and if each one of you will
shoot 40 we are already 1600 smiles shooters J let’s build a
community of smiles shooters, the world needs kindness, mercy, love, caring,
lets share the experience, everyone can make a difference. Thank you for
allowing me to celebrate, discover, and experience the power of diversity
If you will have a chance to put a smile on any human
being's face, PLEASE DO. No guarantee to live tomorrow, don’t postpone joy and
happiness, do things NOW.
Keep in touch and see you all soon
Sincerely yours,
With all my respect and love.
Smiles shooter
Hasan Haj
Youth workers after training are active as role models for
the new experiences they have acquired thus affecting others and their
practice. Some of the partners have organized sessions with local youth after
return and shared their knowledge with their colleagues, fellow young
entrepreneurs. One of participants Sanja Pomezna (Czech Republic) on December
2015 presented project results for the small group which is focused on career
consultation in FDV projects. This event was focusing on continues project
about “Internships for youths 3”, where they plan to be more active in career
counseling, train young people and one of first training would be focused on
entrepreneurship.
Most of participants are still in contact and sharing their
experiences. In addition, FIRST STEP project partners also developed several
other projects and continue cooperation within the consortium.
You can check Hasan speech
here and his blog "MODERN MAN DIARY"
Here you can see the
FIRST STEP Youth workers guidebook, where you can see useful tools to coach young people on entrepreneurship, to get to know some of the participants experience and view on coaching and entrepreneurial learning.
This
project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This
publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be
held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained
therein.
