At Espacio Geranios, we are thrilled to share the exciting outcomes of the Matching Up Sessions, a key initiative of our KA2 Erasmus+ Project, “Social Entrepreneurship as an Enabler of Social Inclusion” (SESI). This innovative program brought together social entrepreneurs and youth workers/youngsters to foster mentorship, collaboration, and the development of impactful social business ideas.
The Vision Behind the Cycle of Matching Up Sessions
The Matching Up Sessions were designed to:
- Create Mentorship Opportunities: Facilitate meaningful connections between experienced social entrepreneurs and youth workers.
- Encourage Idea Generation: Empower youth workers and young people to brainstorm and develop social business ideas addressing local community challenges.
Two Interactive Sessions: A Step-by-Step Process
The cycle consisted of two sessions that encouraged dialogue, idea-sharing, and strategy-building:
On March 5, 2024, Social entrepreneurs took center stage, sharing their projects, challenges, and opportunities in the realm of social business. Youth workers engaged in a dynamic Q&A session, seeking advice and insights on promoting social entrepreneurship at the local level. As a takeaway, youth workers were tasked with preparing a strategy or plan for a potential local business idea to be discussed in the second session.
On March 19th, 2024, youth workers returned with prepared strategies and descriptions of their proposed social initiatives. With guidance and expertise from social entrepreneurs, this session served as an interactive platform to refine these ideas and explore their potential to address community needs effectively.
A Collaborative Effort in Numbers
- 12 Social Entrepreneurs in total participated sharing their invaluable experiences and knowledge.
- 24 youth or youth workers were matched with the entrepreneurs, creating an environment rich with diverse perspectives and ideas.
In the case of Espacio Geranios in Spain, in one group, we were able to bring together Alejandro Arbazúa and Isabel Zambelli, both local artists together with Barriometrajes and the cultural management company, Sedena. In the other, we brought together Anceu Coliving and Ride my Bike Madrid together with Ser Manglar.
Impactful Outcomes
The Matching Up Sessions underscored the importance of collaboration in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. Social entrepreneurs provided mentorship that inspired youth workers to think critically and creatively about local issues. In turn, youth workers brought fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the table, showcasing the power of intergenerational learning and collaboration.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants who made these sessions a success. Your contributions are paving the way for impactful social initiatives and fostering a spirit of inclusion and entrepreneurship.
Stay tuned for more updates from the SESI project and other initiatives at Espacio Geranios as we continue to champion social innovation and community development!