The goal of this activity was to introduce the concept, role, organization, basic operations of social entrepreneurship to 15 youths. Youths received training on the development and organization of social enterprises and were able to understand the concept of social impact in relation to economic value. At the end of this LTTA, they improved the skills and competences that are required to succeed in the field of social entrepreneurship. The youth workers attended the same course and provided guidance to the youth groups formed and helped the trainees to better understand the content of the courses.

The methods used to introduce the participants into social entrepreneurship and the functions of social businesses was the learning-by doing approach and the active participation of all trainees. Non-formal learning methods that were used include workshops, roleplaying and group work. The participant youths engaged in group work and developed examples of social businesses and products and analyzed their potential social impact. The participants also visited successful social businesses in the country of venue in order to have a hands-on experience of how social businesses operate.

After the end of this activity, participants acquired a good understanding of what a social enterprise is, the impact it has on society and they started developing their own ideas for potential social enterprises that may apply in their own communities.

Day 1 – 9 Dec

• Warm up/ ice breaking
• Interactive introduction of all participants
• Questions and expectations about the training by participants
• Briefing about the project from project coordinator Paris Papangelos
• A short introduction of BI-GD and Gotse Delchev
• Guided discussion “What do you think a social entrepreneurship is about? Do you know social entrepreneurs?” “Could you share your experience in social initiatives?”
• Introduction to social entrepreneurship concept and the role of social entrepreneurship in society.

Day 2 – 10 Dec

• Fields of activity of social enterprises – products and services
• Challenges of social enterprises
• Examples of BG and EU social enterprises
• What makes a social enterprise sustainable and successful?
• Work in mixed teams (teams had representatives of all the countries)
• Generate ideas about a potential social enterprise
• Presentation of the team results and feedback
• Team work – Task: From the generated ideas select one which your team would like to shape and develop. Please explain why? What will be the social impact and economic value of your potential social enterprise?

Day 3 – 11 Dec

• Presentation of the team works – 5 minutes per team
• Strategic development of social enterprises: customers and end users; price of the social product/services; who pays for them; competitors, risks
• Networking strategies: potential partners and supporters
• Team work: Develop your social business idea – who are your customers/end users; who will pay and how much, any competitors? Who are your partners?
• Financial issues – main costs and incomes
• Marketing – advertising the SE
• E-commerce to social business
• Legal issue – forms of SE
• Team work task – develop a marketing plan for your SE – identify your clients, how will you get them? How will you promote your SE, how will you touch the heard to cooperate with you?

Day 4  – 12 Dec

• Presentation of successful examples of social businesses from the country
• Visit to successful social business from the country of venue.
• Presentation and guided tour from the business operators

Day 5 – 13 Dec

• A short trip to the village of Leshten – one of the authentic villages in the area
• Presentation of the developed ideas for social enterprises and their promotion by the teams
• Meeting evaluation by participants and teachers
• Awarding – certificates of participation