The training course "Supporting youth creating green start-ups" took place in Asturias, Spain from 16th to 24th April 2015. It was hosted by YEE Spanish member organisation Biodiversa. 22 youth workers, coordinators and volunteers from Czech Republic, Spain, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Portugal, and Croatia gathered to gain new skills to support and empower young entrepreneurs, to explore ways to develop creativity and innovative thinking, to explore tools on how to create environmentally friendly start-ups and much more.

Participants took part in a green start-up simulation, experiencing the first steps to start a green business, possible moral questions, creative thinking and promotion and branding. They also discussed the need and future of green business, the difference between a business man/woman and an entrepreneur and possible way to green up a business. A study visit to an organic orchard and an organic egg farm was organised for participants to meet young green entrepreneurs in the area.

All the sessions and activities were run in contact with nature and following non-formal education methodologies.

"I met some very inspiring young entrepreneurs and NGO leaders, and I gained some nice insights in how to inspire and teach (young) people about entrepreneurship." Janny Ramakers, Latvia

"During the TC, one word was constant in my mind: roots! More than just creating a "business", I felt the urge to go "back to the primitive", reconsider the concepts of our own society and its organization, to be more simple, more "green", more community driven and less "me matters". Like a root, the basis, the soil, the stepping stone, the origin, the strength, where do we come from. Then, if you can find your roots, you can build something - leaves, for instance. May one leaf be a green start-up: root dependent but trying to reach the sky..." Paulo de Morais, Portugal

"It was a great experience, really inspiring, due to the wonderful work from the trainers and the amazing participants that I had the luck to meet
there." Alberto Sanchez, Spain

"The idea of creating green businesses in our economy always seemed to be an utopia. It still is for me even after the trainning course. But I now know that there are a lot of people trying to change our reality into something better then it is. So, only good things can come from that." Joana Silva, Portugal

The training course "Supporting youth creating green start-ups" was the first stage of the long-term project "Green Entrepreneurship", funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission. The project aims to facilitate the access of young people to the labor market by training their skills, inspiring them to create their own green start-ups and promoting entrepreneurship.

As a follow-up of the training course, participants will organise local workshops in their communities and film video-interviews with young green entrepreneurs for the international campaign.

You can find more information about the project  here