Nurturing Problem-Solving Mindsets: Design Thinking Workshop for Youth

Between 31 May and 7 June, BGF successfully organized the first cycle of the Design Thinking workshop as part of the "Regional Incubator for Social Enterprises - RISE" project. The workshop gathered participants aged 15-18 who exhibited a keen interest in entrepreneurship and aspired to make a positive impact on society.

The workshop cycle comprised three sessions, two of which centred around "Problem Identification." These sessions aimed to assist participants in recognizing issues within their local community and analyzing the key stakeholders involved in the problem's existence and potential resolution.

The third workshop focused on "Ideation and Prototyping," building upon the foundation laid in the "Problem Identification" sessions. Participants actively worked on developing ideas to address the identified problem and translating those ideas into social initiatives, social enterprises, or informal activities through prototyping. Additionally, they gained insights into the invaluable role of customer feedback in refining their social entrepreneurship models and the significance of problem-specific stakeholders in shaping potential solutions.

A showcase on youth reconciliation in the Western Balkans

Launched in 2019, RISE supports social ventures that have a positive impact on the region's ecosystems. The project fosters reconciliation in the Western Balkans by promoting and strengthening social entrepreneurship. The intercultural component involved the SEEYN, allowing the Risers to broaden their understanding of cultural differences in the business setting. Over the next four months, young entrepreneurs will participate in the regional mobility program and develop their business ideas into functional prototypes, which will be presented during the RISE Regional Forum in Skopje.

This project is co-funded by the Agence Française de Développement, the European Union; Regional Youth Cooperation Office and the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ). RISE project is developed in partnership with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), PULSE (Groupe SOS), South East European Youth Network (SEEYN), the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nesto vise, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis and Yunus Social Business Balkans.