Project title
Social Entrepreneurship in Time of crises
Programme
European Commission, Erasmus+, KA2 – Capacity-building in the Field of Higher Education. The project has been funded with support from the European Union.
Project No. 101126945
Project Duration
Start Date: December 1, 2023
End Date: November 30, 2026
Project Summary
In a period of unprecedented crisis that affects the economic, political, governmental and social sectors in Lebanon, our project developed below, Social Entrepreneurship in time of crises (EC.TC), aims to improve the economic situation in Lebanon’s north, Bekaa and South region. Our teachers-trainers as well as our students, enrolled in a higher education system, will receive training and coaching services to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and culture. Consequently, they will share their acquired skills by engaging in community building activities among vulnerable groups.
The key aim of the project is to provide a way for active development of human capital, practical encouragement of social entrepreneurial activities and establishment of effective pathways to youth employment in strategic cooperation with different stakeholders, in vulnerable communities. It is about building the capacities of trainers and youth students-trainers in the process of creating a supportive entrepreneurial environment in their communities, in line with the Erasmus+ program in the capacity building in higher education.
Empowerment through acquiring entrepreneurial skills may contribute to reducing unemployment, with a special focus on social entrepreneurship. Dedicated to serving the common good, our main objective aims to empower teachers-trainers and students and enhance their innovative pedagogical approaches for the growth of social entrepreneurship, micro-businesses, and early-stage start-ups in rural regions in Lebanon. As for the indirect effect, it will encourage local suppliers, empower customers, enhance competition, and create job opportunities which will reflect better employment, an improvement of the economic, social and environmental sustainability in the long run.
Key objective
The key aim of the project is to provide a way for active development of human capital, practical encouragement of social entrepreneurial activities and establishment of effective pathways to youth employment in strategic cooperation with different stakeholders. It aims to empower teachers-trainers and students and enhance their innovative pedagogical approaches for the growth of social entrepreneurship, micro-businesses, and early-stage start-ups in rural regions in Lebanon, creating a supportive entrepreneurial environment in their communities.
Why social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is a powerful tool containing the potential to mobilize youth willing to engage and pour efforts to achieve major social objectives, including employment creation, poverty reduction, inclusion and integration. Dedicated to serving the common good, social enterprises established by young people can directly contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals.
Expected impact
To enhance and develop capacity building of Higher Education academic instructors in social entrepreneurship, and to lead research in the areas of social enterprise and business ethics.
To develop sustainable self-sufficiency by cultivating and following a culture of social entrepreneurship and business ethics applicable at the Lebanese partner universities with the support of European partners.
To enhance and develop capacities and skills of students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs, serving the needs of the local communities.
To actively participate in helping and contributing to develop social enterprises in rural regions and ethically driven businesses by reaching out to youth and underprivileged people.