Economic Inclusion Through Social Entrepreneurship
Economic Inclusion Through Social Entrepreneurship – Stage 1
Day 1 – 23 April 2025
The first day brought together 26 participants from 8 countries for a week-long training on economic inclusion and social entrepreneurship. Through interactive icebreakers, meaningful discussions, and the creation of a shared social contract, participants established a strong foundation of learning, collaboration, and mutual respect.
The sessions introduced the principles of social entrepreneurship, focusing on how businesses can create positive impact while balancing People, Planet, and Profit. Participants also connected local experiences with global perspectives to encourage innovation and new ideas.
The day concluded with a Cultural Night, where participants celebrated their diverse backgrounds through music, dance, food, stories, and games, strengthening connections within the international group.
Day 2 – 24 April 2025
The second day focused on personal growth, self-awareness, and creating positive change in communities. Participants used tools such as the Johari Window and SWOT Analysis to better understand their strengths, areas for improvement, and personal development goals.
An inspiring story about resilience and entrepreneurship following a spinal injury encouraged participants to recognize their inner strength and ability to overcome challenges.
Working first in national teams and then across countries, participants identified community issues such as unemployment, financial illiteracy, youth migration, and limited career guidance. They developed creative solutions and presented innovative ideas, including the use of Minecraft for historical awareness and AI to support motivation, demonstrating how technology and collaboration can contribute to meaningful social change.
Day 3 – 25 April 2025
The third day began with an energetic team-building game that created a lively and positive atmosphere. Participants then continued developing their projects by discussing, evaluating, and prioritizing ideas, while exploring important concepts related to profit, social enterprises, and trust.
Teams used the Business Model Canvas (BMC) to organize their ideas and transform creative concepts into structured project plans. In the afternoon, groups presented their projects, encouraging feedback, discussion, and the exchange of new perspectives.
The day concluded with a practical and engaging activity focused on self-promotion and building partnerships, helping participants develop skills for future collaboration and project opportunities.
Day 4 – 26 April 2025
The fourth day gave participants a chance to explore Malta’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and local businesses outside the training room. Divided into groups, participants visited Gozo Island, discovering its scenic landscapes and historic architecture, while others experienced the clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.
During the visits, participants also explored local shops and artists’ studios, gaining a better understanding of the differences between traditional businesses and social enterprises in Malta.
The experience connected the principles of social entrepreneurship with real-world examples, highlighting the importance of sustainability, community involvement, and locally driven economic development.
Day 5 – 27 April 2025
The fifth day began with a fun team-building energizer that encouraged participants to improve their focus, communication, and teamwork. After reflecting on previous sessions, the group revisited the core principles of social entrepreneurship through the People, Planet, and Profit framework, sharing real-world examples and experiences from their respective countries.
The afternoon focused on networking and collaboration. Participants presented their professional interests and identified shared values and areas of interest that could lead to strong partnerships. Based on these connections, new teams were formed to develop collaborative project ideas.
The day concluded with project pitches focused on creating positive social impact, transforming initial concepts into more structured and actionable proposals. The activities strengthened both the participants’ sense of purpose and their readiness to turn ideas into meaningful initiatives.
Day 6 – 28 April 2025
The sixth day focused on critical thinking, decision-making, teamwork, and project improvement. Participants took part in an activity based on Abigail’s tale, where they ranked five characters from best to worst and defended their choices. Working first in small groups and then in larger teams, participants experienced how personal values, individual perspectives, and group compromise can influence decisions and outcomes.
In the afternoon, the six groups presented their revised project ideas, incorporating feedback from earlier sessions. Mentor Ismail provided additional insights and recommendations to help strengthen each project and improve its potential for social impact.
The day provided valuable lessons in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and responding constructively to feedback.
Day 7 – 29 April 2025
The final day of Stage 1 featured an inspiring session with WeGen Energy Philippines Inc., a social enterprise that provides solar energy solutions to off-grid communities. Participants learned how the People, Planet, and Profit approach can create meaningful social impact by generating employment, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting vulnerable communities. The discussion highlighted how access to clean energy can improve essential services such as food storage, education, and community development.
The group also explored fundraising and financing strategies for social entrepreneurship projects. These included opportunities such as Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, angel investment, crowdfunding, and local partnerships.
The session emphasized that successful social initiatives begin with a clear mission, a committed team, and the motivation to create positive change, while funding can help transform these ideas into sustainable projects.
Stage 1 concluded with participants looking forward to continuing their social entrepreneurship journey during Stage 2 in Ukraine.
Economic Inclusion Through Social Entrepreneurship-Stage 2
Day 1 – Arrival & Warm Welcome!
The second stage of “Economic Inclusion Through Social Entrepreneurship” began in the beautiful Vinnytsia region of Ukraine, bringing together 26 participants from eight countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Armenia, Georgia, Malta, Poland, Ireland, and Ukraine.
The first day focused on welcoming participants, introductions, and building connections among the international group. In the afternoon, participants visited Podilskyi Remisnyk, an inspiring social enterprise known for producing craft bread. The visit demonstrated how a business can combine economic activity with social responsibility, with part of its income supporting community and social needs.
The experience provided participants with a practical example of social entrepreneurship in action and how businesses can contribute to positive change within their communities.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, in cooperation with partner organizations from participating countries.
Day 2 – Teamwork, Problem-Solving & Sharing Ideas 💡🌍
The second day of the “Economic Inclusion through Social Entrepreneurship” training focused on teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.
Participants began by discussing house rules, safety procedures, and effective teamwork, emphasizing the importance of working toward shared goals rather than individual success. They then identified social problems that could be addressed through their business ideas, discussed and prioritized them, and selected a common issue to explore together.
A creative “Hot Bun” reflection activity allowed participants to reflect on the morning’s learning in an engaging way. The day continued with country presentations, where participants shared examples of social enterprises and successful practices from their respective countries.
Overall, the sessions encouraged collaboration, innovation, and the exchange of ideas, helping participants better understand how social entrepreneurship can address real community challenges.
Day 3 – Business in Action & Inspiration Through Art 🎨💼
The third day of the “Economic Inclusion through Social Entrepreneurship” training combined practical business learning with meaningful social impact.
Participants took part in the Business Game developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a simulation designed to recreate real-world business situations. By completing the first level, participants practiced teamwork, role allocation, financial and managerial decision-making, and effective business communication. A reflection session afterward allowed them to evaluate their mistakes, achievements, and key lessons.
The group also visited Ethno Chary, a social enterprise behind the “Pottery in the Dark” initiative, which supports visually impaired veterans by providing opportunities to learn pottery and create handmade ceramic products.
The day demonstrated how entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and social responsibility can work together to create meaningful opportunities and promote inclusion within communities.
Day 4 – Free Day in Vinnytsia
After several days of training, participants enjoyed a free day exploring Vinnytsia. The day began with a guided city tour, where a local ambassador introduced the group to the city’s history, culture, architecture, and heritage.
Participants visited Mykola Leontovych Park, walked along Soborna Street, admired the historic Water Tower, and enjoyed a relaxing walk along the Southern Bug River.
The afternoon allowed participants to explore the city independently, visiting cafés, markets, craft shops, and local restaurants while experiencing Ukrainian culture and cuisine.
Overall, the day provided a refreshing break from the training while strengthening cultural exchange, friendships, and appreciation for the local community.
Day 5 – Business Game, Collaboration & Strategic Thinking 💼🤝
The fifth day continued with the second level of the Business Game developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The activity focused on teamwork, strategic thinking, and understanding how businesses can collaborate, compete, and build sustainable partnerships.
Participants explored important entrepreneurial concepts, including purchasing, start-up capital management, and the 8Ps of the marketing mix: Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, Physical Evidence, and Partnership.
Through realistic business simulations, participants took on different roles, adapted to changing market situations, and practiced negotiation, customer relations, decision-making, and problem-solving.
The day strengthened participants’ ability to think strategically and apply practical entrepreneurial skills in real-world business situations.
Day 6 – Pitching, Inspiration & Celebration 💡🎤🏆
The final day of the “Economic Inclusion Through Social Entrepreneurship” training focused on presenting ideas, celebrating achievements, and reflecting on the learning experience.
Participants finalized their social enterprise business plans and presented their ideas, including their enterprise names, business models, and estimated funding requirements. Following the presentations, each participant received a virtual €1,000 investment to secretly allocate to the projects they considered most impactful. The three teams receiving the highest total investments were recognized as the winners.
The winning teams received symbolic gifts inspired by Ukrainian and Vinnytsia culture, while all participants were awarded certificates of participation.
The training concluded with a reflection session where participants shared their key lessons, memorable experiences, and future interests. The final day celebrated the creativity, teamwork, and commitment developed throughout the project, bringing the training journey to a meaningful close.
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