FIRST STEP: Youth workers guidebook

BE INVOLVED, BE ACTIVE, TAKE THE STEPS!

So in the end of FIRST STEP project we can present you a Youth worker guidebook and share some tools, experience of our training course participants. The purpose of this tool to engage more youth worker in coaching young people in entrepreneurship, how to analyse their potential to be self employed and beat youth unemployment. FIRST STEPers in the guidebook share their experience on mentoring or those who are making first steps in being entrepreneur.

You can read and download the guidebook here.

In addition, you can also find results of FIRST STEP training course participants' self-assessment analysis here.

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.

FIRST STEP: Networking

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.

MAKING FIRST STEP

MAKING FIRST STEP

Training course in Limassol

Project “Coaching Young Entrepreneurs - Providing Support in Making the First Step" (FIRST STEP), funded by the EU through the ERASMUS+ programme, Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals (in the field of youth workers).

Unemployment is a major issue that Europe is confronting nowadays. Young entrepreneurs face great difficulties in starting their own business. It is not only the external environment that creates the chaos for young entrepreneurs but inner difficulties such lack of self-confidence, lack of skills, insufficient leadership capabilities and similar issues. One of the most important decisions for any entrepreneur is choosing what sort of business he or she wants so we will be looking at initial decisions that entrepreneurs need to look seriously at and trainers/coaches need to be attentive to. Moreover, for an entrepreneur, recognition and a sense of achievement are fundamental motivators, which have significant consequences in the way entrepreneurs approach and manage their businesses. In a similar way, entrepreneurs need to align their personal goals with their business goals and need to have important skills like motivating others. All these issues will be important in the training course.

The most important objective of the project "Coaching Young Entrepreneurs - Providing Support in Making the First Step" (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 project addresses directly the issues of entrepreneurship, creativity and employability of young people in Europe and has a strong alignment with the objectives of the Erasmus Plus programme and its objectives. The "FIRST-STEP" project aims at promoting young people's commitment towards a more inclusive growth by helping youth workers to become more aware and be able to stimulate young people’s spirit of initiative, creativity and entrepreneurship and employability through the use of coaching tools and promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit.  The project is more specifically aiming at providing a training course which will provide an educational learning experience on the topic of providing coaching and support for young people wanting to become entrepreneurs and thus will improve participants ’competences, knowledge, skills and attitudes in coaching and counseling.

DOREA Educational Institute on 8-15 November 2015 invited 36 youth workers from 11 countries (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Kosovo) to take part in very interactive training course in Limassol. Youth workers and young entrepreneurs had a chance to engage in learning new tools of coaching, be inspired, challenge themselves by going outside the training room and in practice experience entrepreneurial spirit – to make those steps that really bring them to knowing better how to be an entrepreneur.

Here are some remarks from participants:

What was the biggest impact of training in your professional life?

Giulia (CESIE, Italy): In my personal professional experience, this training helped me to observe things in a different way: from a rational and economic point of view and what it’s necessary do to achieve a goal for example.

Attilio (CESIE, Italy): I think the biggest impact was the knowledge. Each moment of our professional life requires a solid background based on past experience tht is why I do not consider knowledge like a science related just to the studies but a mix of studies, challenges, team, network and so on.

Marios (DOREA, Cyprus): The biggest impact of the training in my professional life was the fact that I met people who worked in different fields but all of them had passion for what they were doing and it was inspiring to talk to them. Plus i learned very useful information about starting and running a business from some of the participants who were very experienced in this area. I still follow some of the participants and we still help and support each other moving towards our dreams.

How the training influenced your business ideas, future work plans?

Giulia (CESIE, Italy): The training encouraged me to implement and improve my own skills and ideas entrepreneural through explanations, attitudes, and comparisons of intercultural young people really motivated. So this type of comparison developed me positivity and optimism as well as  self- confidence.

Attilio (CESIE, Italy): I think the training strengthened my business ideas because it supported me with rationality, methodology and gave me some insights for my future steps.

Marios (DOREA, Cyprus): The training gave me a fresh perspective for my business ideas and the desire and knowledge to be more productive and more profitable by doing a business that i love.

What do you think how important for young people in general to take part in such Erasmus+ programmes?

Giulia (CESIE, Italy): According to me it’s very useful and important to take part in a such wonderful experience, because, it is really rewarding and gratifying; it’s really important also to compare own skills, culture, lifestyles, habits and customs with different people. You learn to speak, and in general to communicate in another language (generally English, but not always) you improve your capabilities to stay and work in a group, so you can see how get along with people from different countries. You can also study different subjects, and learn new things that can be useful for your personal growth or professional experience. And at the end it’s an amusing experience!

Attilio (CESIE, Italy): I think Erasmus+ programmes help to get some values such as team building, networking, rationality, challenges and a great experience with nice and professional trainers

Marios (DOREA, Cyprus): It's very important for people who are interested in entrepreneurship to take part in such Erasmus+ programs because it brings them in contact with like minded people willing to advice them and motivate them to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams.

Would you advice to take part in such activities for your country youth? How important it is for them considering their employment possibilities in your country?

Giulia (CESIE, Italy): Nothing in particular, as I said It’s very important to young people relate with their peers or more in general people who comes from different countries. To learn and to have a new specific knowledge in the field of Entrepreneurship enhance the possibility of a settled employment. 

Attilio (CESIE, Italy): Yes ! Traditionally Italians are business oriented people so I strongly suggest to Italian youth to participate in order to learn how to manage future steps. 

Marios (DOREA, Cyprus): I would suggest that unemployed or even employed Cypriot youth takes part in similar training because this could make them realize, as i did during the training, that money are all around us. Just solve a problem, benefit some people and success will come. You don't need to wait to be hired by someone. If you have a passion, just strive for it.

Any advice?

Giulia (CESIE, Italy): Be yourself, don’t be shy, speak speak speak even if you make mistakes!

Marios (DOREA, Cyprus): My advice is to never let an obstacle or a failure stop you from achieving success. Just learn from your failures and move on to success. Plus, surround yourself with like-minded people - something that trainings can help you accomplish.

Team from Belarus – Luba, Dennis and Anna - (Start Up Women) shares more of their experience of training course: http://startupwomen.by/first-step-our-expirience/

Dennis was one of the winners of Social media competition by sharing his photo on Facebook from the exercise they had to do – mix teams going in the streets and earning 15 Eur from scratch. Most of the teams did amazing job. One group brought even 30 Eur of profit. So all the FIRST STEPers had to challenge themselves, being creative, fast, interactive and creating strong teams – experiencing entrepreneurial spirit from its roots.

To get to know more about all the participants see previous posts of this blog.

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.