Young people transforming their future through social and sustainable entrepreneurship: STUD entrepreneurs closes in Sofia

-60 young people from Bulgaria, Greece and Spain have been trained in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and SDGs 

-The project leaves behind a legacy of digitised interactive training materials

STUD entrepreneurs | Participants of the final conference in Sofia, Bulgaria

In a world full of climatic, social and economic challenges, one thing never changes: young people’s desire to transform their environment. The European STUD Entrepreneurs project was created precisely for this purpose: to support young people who want to use science and technology not only to work in fields they enjoy, but also to solve real problems in their communities.

Throughout its journey, STUD Entrepreneurs has connected young people from Bulgaria, Greece and Spain in experiences that go far beyond simple training in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). In Sofia, for example, the group visited the Muzeiko Science Museum, an interactive space that sparked their curiosity and showed how engineering, ecology and archaeology can be applied to projects that improve the lives of their communities.

In Greece, the city of Patras was the setting for workshops that encouraged participants to discover their potential in STEM careers and think about how their scientific knowledge can lead to innovative solutions, from new environmental technologies to social businesses that promote equal opportunities.

In Spain, the last face-to-face meeting in Valencia brought together all the work carried out and reinforced a key idea: young people are more than ready to lead social and environmental transformation if they receive tools, support and training that combines technical knowledge with a focus on social impact and sustainable development.

The project has achieved very concrete results, as presented at the final conference in Bulgaria: 60 young people have been trained in social entrepreneurship through a programme based on non-formal methodologies, STEM and the Sustainable Development Goals; an open educational resource with interactive digital materials has been created; and the capacity of participating organisations to promote social innovation in networks has been strengthened.

But perhaps his most valuable achievement is having instilled in these young people the certainty that their talent and ideas can be turned into real projects that change their environment. That science and technology are not just school subjects, but tools for transforming lives and protecting the planet.

This project has been made possible thanks to the Kauzi Foundation (Bulgaria), Liofyllo (Greece) and Jovesólides (Spain), with the support of the European Commission. You can follow their progress and results on social media using #STUDentrepreneurs.