The project “Stoic Principles in Modern Entrepreneurship” is a mobility of youth workers – Training course, hosted by CET PLATFORMA Skopje in Krushevo, North Macedonia, that brings 26 youth workers, youth leaders and trainers from North Macedonia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Serbia, Slovakia and Turkey.
Entrepreneurial education is essential nowadays. It provides youngsters with a holistic set of skills and mindset that prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. The job market is evolving, and constantly changing which makes the ability to think entrepreneurially as an essential asset in navigating the dynamic and competitive job landscape.
In this context, philosophy can provide a conceptual and ethical foundation for entrepreneurship, influencing how entrepreneurs approach challenges, make decisions, and contribute to society through their ventures. The intersection of philosophy and entrepreneurship can lead to a more thoughtful, ethical, and reflective approach to business endeavors. Philosophy and entrepreneurship may seem like distinct fields, but they share some common threads and can intersect in various ways. Successful entrepreneurs often need to navigate uncertainties, make decisions in ambiguous situations. Philosophy encourages critical thinking, the ability to analyse complex issues, and solve problems.
We see in Stoicism one of the most important empowering philosophical schools which principles can be applied to various aspects of life, including entrepreneurship and youth work. By incorporating Stoic principles into their mindset and decision-making, young people can develop a resilient and adaptive approach to the challenges and uncertainties inherent in business. Stoicism provides a philosophical framework that encourages personal and professional growth while promoting a calm and rational perspective. Stoicism promotes rational thinking and objective evaluation of situations. Entrepreneurs can apply this by making decisions based on facts, data, and logical analysis rather than being swayed by emotions or external pressures.
The project will help the involved youth workers to understand better this relationship, analyse it from youth work perspective and apply their findings to their youth work.
The main aim of the project is to improve the competencies and quality of the youth work of 24 youth workers to combat youth unemployment through entrepreneurship education and Stoic philosophy.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
- To explore the roots, challenges, and socio-economic consequences of youth unemployment and how it can be addressed through youth work and non-formal education
- To promote entrepreneurial education through various philosophical schools, in our case the Stoicism
- To facilitate the exchange of good practices, methodological approaches and resources for youth work on improving employability skills between participants and the involved organisations
- To plan, develop and test non-formal learning activities and methods that can be used by participants and other youth workers to improve young people’s employability skills
- To improve the skills of participants to design, facilitate and evaluate non-formal learning activities
- To strengthen the cooperation and networking between involved organisations by providing an opportunity for partnership building
- To promote the recognition and validation of knowledge, skills and competencies through non-formal education and Youthpass certificate
- To raise awareness about the Erasmus+ programme and the opportunities it provides in tackling youth unemployment and boosting the employability of youth workers and youth
METHODOLOGY:
The working methods will be based on non-formal and experiential education that provide all the participants with the information needed to enhance their learning process but also in order to create an inclusive and learner-centered learning environment. The participants will be encouraged to learn from their own experience and to learn in new innovative ways. Methods that will be used will include: getting-to-know each other, ice-breakers and team building, energizers, discussions, debates, working in groups, learning-by-doing activities, peer-to-peer work, simulations, presentations, analysis and comparison, theatre and role-playing, personal and group reflections, open-space and outdoor activities.
The project “Stoic Principles in Modern Entrepreneurship” is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union through the Key Action 1: Mobility of youth workers, and granted by the Macedonian National agency for European educational programs and mobility.
