LITHUANIA

Follow Up Activity 

Activity 2023-08-18.

Title: Volunteering, how to find yourself?

We've had a youth event in local Public Library in Pilviškiai village. Youth was not easy to find during holiday time, but through personal invitations and with help of some volunteers and youth inviting their friends, we managed to select a nice group of nice young people.

The goal of the activity was to activate local youth and to inspire them to be proactive, discover what they want and how they can improve their skills and create something by themselves.

We used "successful people" activity from LASE training, which speaks about successful people qualities and what makes them be successful. The picture of the successful social-entrepreneurs was shared and youth were asked if they knew some of them. Zuckerberg was one entrepreneur all of them knew. Then, youth was reflecting on the best qualities successful people can have and we discussed qualities they had that helped them reach their daily goals (routine, consistency). This non-formal exercise let youth dive deeper into their experiences and realize they were already doing much work to improve themselves. Participants showed their creative sides and told about their art, music and chess skills, volunteering experiences and how all of them were consistent in reaching their goals.

As an organization we have learned that young people from rural areas enjoy non-formal activities, interactions, discussions and would love to have more similar events where the atmosphere is warm, informal and everyone can say, express what they think. That brings us to planning and bringing even more events in rural areas and connecting more to the local communities.

Links for online dissemination 

• https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuy9oy2u21i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 
• https://www.instagram.com/p/CwMyI3YurV2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 
• https://bit.ly/LASEdissemination1 
• https://bit.ly/LASEdiss 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klBsF1dgigk 

Participants personal impressions and evaluation 

Aušrinė:

During an exhilarating week in a training program "LASE" about launching social entrepreneurship, young participants from diverse backgrounds gathered with a shared passion for making a positive impact in society. The days were filled with intense brainstorming sessions, interactive workshops and engaging discussions that fueled entrepreneurial spirits. Guided by amazing mentors and experts in the field, we learned about the key principles of social entrepreneurship, including identifying pressing social issues, creating innovative solutions, and developing sustainable business models. Collaborative projects allowed us to combine our unique skills and perspectives, fostering a sense of unity and collective empowerment. The week culminated in a captivating pitch competition, where each team presented their groundbreaking social enterprise ideas to a panel of judges and potential investors. The energy and enthusiasm were ambiguous as the participants showcased their creative solutions, showcasing their commitment to making a difference in the world. This transformative week not only ignited entrepreneurial drive but also cultivated lifelong friendships and a shared vision for a more perspective and sustainable future.

Asta:

I chose this project because I'd like to have my social business in the future. "LASE" helped me to look into what actually social business is and see it from different perspectives. It gave good insight on personalities who are successful, I loved personal guided reflection as well, it gave me time to finally stop from all works and think of my personal qualities. I really liked Design Thinking steps that makes you go deeper into the problems of society, community and analyze why and what to do, how to develop the business that it would be unique and give back to society.

The training helped me to mingle and get to know many participants better and make some valuable collaborations, get the contacts from different countries.

However, part I loved the most, was connecting to people, realizing once more how we are similar no matter countries, cultures and languages and find some friends. Nevertheless some cultural differences, people made me reflect mostly about myself and made my problem-solving skills better.

Victoria:

A social business is a type of organisation that aims to address social, environmental, or community issues while also generating sustainable financial returns. Unlike traditional businesses, where profit maximization is the primary goal, social businesses prioritize positive impact alongside financial viability.

It's great that "LASE" has given me insights into understanding social business from various perspectives. Exploring different viewpoints can greatly enhance understanding of complex concepts like social business.

Under the guidance of exceptional mentors and field experts, we delved into the fundamental principles of social entrepreneurship. This encompassed recognizing urgent social challenges, devising significantly inventive solutions, and crafting enduring business models for sustainability.
I will use the technique and knowledge I have gained during the activities with my students at SMK University of Applied Sciences.

Goda:

This project was one of the best experiences in my life. Such an amazing people gathered in it, with great enthusiasm, always willing to help, atmosphere in project was so safe, I felt very good mentally while I was in there. Project itself was very interacting, with tons of group work and self reflection which helped me to get better view of myself and others. There will be quite few things that will be used by me in my business. I really loved amazing trainers, that throughout the project was so respectful towards all participants, so patient and always willing to help, which made atmosphere of a project even more better and safe. Wonderful participants in there gave me unforgettable experiences and precious friendships, possible business partners.I also very enjoyed one free day in project which let us to get know Porto more, and relax a little. It was great reboost before intense work. I'm grateful for all project writers, managers, and all people who helped this project come to life, it was truly the best project I've ever been to.