LATVIAN TEAM
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY
The Erasmus project KA153YOU LAUNCHING A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE was really important for our group because social entrepreneurship is relatively new in Latvia and we don't yet have enough long-term working successful projects to study their best practices and to generalize their experience. On the other hand, we know a lot about the social projects of big companies, which improve the situation for local communities and for the big world.
Upon our arrival back home we planned a number of activities for different target groups. We've planned to share our experience with several groups of teenagers as well as with a group of young adults. We also decided we'll reach out to local small business owners to tell them about the best practices of their peers abroad.
We believed the annual Young Folks Festival might be an excellent opportunity to deliver new info to everyone who joined us to enjoy the beauty of Latvian summer and to seek new things to learn.
After launching the activities to different target groups we can say that teenagers were happy and inspired to learn about the new opportunities, the young adults came prepared and asked interesting questions, while the local entrepreneurs shared their best practices and ideas. They, however, were the most sceptical group.
Overall, we managed to deliver information on social entrepreneurship to our community and inspire the local youth for the new projects.
PARTICIPANTS' IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PROJECT:
Inna Eizensharf: For many years I worked for social welfare. I know how important and meaningful a one-person initiative can be for vulnerable groups of the population. The more important for me was to learn about the opportunities provided by social entrepreneurs.
Gabriela Golande: At the university, I majored in business studies, so the idea of social entrepreneurship was not totally new to me. I was rather interested to discuss the topic with my peers from different countries and backgrounds.
Violetta Silin: Being an experienced Erasmus and non-formal education admirer I expected something more dynamic and vibrant, more group work and discussions. But the topic of the training was really interesting. I'm happy I can share new knowledge and experience with my community.
Jana Janovska: The program brought together young minds from diverse backgrounds, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. The workshops and seminars were well-balanced, combining theory and practical knowledge to equip us with valuable skills for tackling real-world issues.