Youth Entrepreneurial Attitudes Support Project

<< Background >>The YEAS project was created in response to the urgent need to effectively foster entrepreneurial attitudes among young people. The EFORT Foundation's previous experience has shown that traditional approaches to entrepreneurship education, focusing mainly on imparting theoretical knowledge and business competencies, do not produce the expected results. We have identified a gap in existing educational programs, which do not pay enough attention to developing universal entrepreneurial attitudes, such as initiative, creativity and the ability to take risks. These attitudes are the foundation of entrepreneurship, on which only later more detailed business knowledge can be built. The YEAS project aimed to fill this gap by developing an innovative methodological approach based on the EntreComp European Entrepreneurial Competence Framework.The implementation of the project also responded to the needs of institutional development and intensification of international cooperation among partner organizations.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the YEAS project was to support the process of shaping and strengthening youth entrepreneurial attitudes by developing, testing and making available for widespread use the innovative YEAS Youth Entrepreneurial Attitude Support Model. The model was intended to be a comprehensive and universal tool that could be applied in a variety of youth work contexts.To this end, we wanted to conduct a critical insight and analysis of the European Competency Framework in terms of definition, valorization, recognition and support of entrepreneurial attitudes. To then develop and disseminate a conceptual model for assessing, shaping and enhancing entrepreneurial attitudes. The educational and dissemination activities of the project were resulted in an increase in educators' knowledge, awareness and skills in entrepreneurial attitude support practices, initiatives and tools.The implementation of the project itself brought an increase in the substantive capacity of the partners and internationalization of their activities through joint planning and implementation of the project. And this was to result in the development of international partnerships and networking through jointly implemented project activities.<< Implementation >>1. Project management - an international project team was established responsible for coordinating all activities, monitoring progress, managing finances and ensuring effective communication between partners. 2. International project meetings: inaugural “kick-off meeting” in Malaga (Spain) and evaluation and closing “closure meeting” in Kleosin (Poland). 3. design of the YEAS Model by creating two key publications: “YEAS Methodology Guide” and ‘YEAS Toolbox’. 4. Mobility in Spain - 4-day pilot training for 8 youth workers/educators (4 each from PL and ES). Participants tested new tools and methods, exchanged experiences and searched for innovative ways of practical application of the YEAS model.5 Dissemination activities. As part of these activities, each partner conducted 2 one-day pilot virtual workshops and 4 one-day coaching sessions for youth workers and educators. A total of 96 people participated in these activities. In addition, e-notes documenting project activities were published online, and the Erasmus+ Results Platform, SALTO-YOUTH and EPALE were used.<< Results >>The YEAS project not only brought concrete, measurable results in the form of developed publications and tools of the YEAS Model (“YEAS Methodology Guide” and “YEAS Toolbox”), realized international meetings (2 project team meetings and educational mobility in Spain), dissemination activities (online workshops, coaching sessions, online publications) but also a number of “soft” effects, such as increased competencies of youth educators and staff of partner organizations (linguistic, managerial, personal), the establishment of lasting international partnerships and internationalization of partners (further joint applications submitted under Erasmus+ by project partners), substantive and organizational development of partner organizations, or increased awareness of the importance of youth entrepreneurial attitudes among youth educators and staff from Poland and Spain. These comprehensive results have the potential to have a long-term impact on the youth work and entrepreneurship education sector, both locally and at the European level.