LEADER project “Embracing the Future!”

The LEADER project “Zukunft unternehmen!” aims to raise awareness of social entrepreneurship amongst pupils in the Steinfurt district from Year 9 onwards. Through workshops held in schools, the young people will learn how economic activity and social engagement can work together. They will acquire practical entrepreneurial skills by developing their own sustainable and social business ideas.

The project is being implemented by the Steinfurt Economic Development Agency (WESt) in collaboration with Lernen fördern e.V. and the Kreissparkasse Steinfurt, which are also providing financial support. The majority of the funding comes from the EU’s LEADER programme.

Logoleiste von dem Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kofinanzierung durch die Europäische Union, Lernen fördern e.V., Kreissparkasse Steinfurt

Project objectives

Social entrepreneurship is a key pillar of the region’s future viability.

An important investment in the future is to teach pupils at an early stage that they can tackle and resolve social challenges through entrepreneurial action. This should motivate them to take action themselves and bring about positive change in their local communities.

We aim to raise awareness of social entrepreneurship amongst school pupils in the Steinfurt district, to inspire them at an early stage with innovative, sustainable and social business models, and to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to put their own ideas and projects into practice. The project is thus designed to fill an important gap in the curriculum.

In the long term, “Zukunft unternehmen!” also contributes to attracting skilled workers and further developing the local start-up ecosystem. Through partnerships with regional businesses, start-ups and initiatives, the project aims to promote practical application and exchange with the business community.

Project timeline

Training of coaches
Workshops in schools
joint closing event
Continuity

Pupils gain an insight into various subject areas and career paths through direct interaction with start-ups, organisations and projects.

 

 

What is social entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship is a specific form of business start-up that focuses on finding solutions to social and environmental challenges. Social entrepreneurs combine economic thinking with social responsibility and use business methods to solve problems.

For schools

The programme is designed for pupils from Year 9 onwards and is aimed at secondary schools in the Steinfurt district, regardless of the type of school. Participation is free of charge for schools.

Guided by trainers, the young people go through the following stages in the workshops:

  • Identifying challenges: Pupils identify current social issues that are of personal concern to them and for which they wish to develop solutions.
  • Developing and testing solutions: They then develop and test innovative entrepreneurial ideas to tackle these challenges.
  • Developing a business model: Finally, they design a viable and sustainable business model that makes their proposed solutions feasible.

Why take part?

  • foster key skills such as problem-solving and initiative
  • Opportunity to develop business ideas and be creative as part of a team
  • Discover entrepreneurship as a potential career path

Would you like your school to take part? Then simply fill in the form below!

Go to the form

For trainers and anyone who would like to become one

The workshops are led by selected and specially trained trainers who are passionate about social entrepreneurship and enjoy equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed for the innovations of tomorrow. In collaboration with SEEd (Social Entrepreneurship Education), they have taken part in a two-day training course, during which they learnt methods and tools such as the Business Model Canvas, agile creativity techniques and pitch training.

We’re looking for more dedicated trainers!

Do you have experience of working with young people, or do you have expertise in start-ups or entrepreneurship? Or are you simply curious about the topic and keen to explore it further? Above all, though: would you like to inspire young people in the Steinfurt district and introduce them to social entrepreneurship in a fun and practical way? Then you’ve come to the right place!

As part of our project, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in an intensive two-day training course. There, you’ll learn all the key methods and tools you need to run our workshops in schools – from creative brainstorming techniques to effective pitch training.

Sounds exciting?
Then get involved, or if you have any questions, simply get in touch here: Form

Logo SEED Social Entrepreneurship Education

Project participants

“As a schoolgirl, I would have loved a project just like this. Back then, it never even crossed my mind that I might become a founder myself,” says project coordinator Carolin Möllenbeck (left), who herself founded a start-up with a sustainable business model five years ago.

“Social entrepreneurship is a key pillar for the future viability of our region,” explains Christian Holterhues (2nd from left), Managing Director of WESt, and District Administrator Dr Martin Sommer (2nd from right) is equally convinced: “With this project, we are not only strengthening our region’s capacity for innovation, but also fostering a sense of responsibility among young people.” “An important investment in the future,” adds Horst Schöpper (third from left) from the Local Action Group (LAG) Steinfurter Land e.V.

Andrea Rüter (third from the right), spokesperson for the board of the ‘Lernen fördern’ business network, is delighted: “This project offers a valuable opportunity to show school pupils at an early stage how they can contribute to the common good through their own ideas.” Carl-Christian Kamp (right), a board member of Kreissparkasse Steinfurt, also sees great potential: “As a bank with deep regional roots, promoting education and entrepreneurship is particularly close to our hearts. ‘Zukunft unternehmen!’ combines both in an ideal way.”

Sechs Personen sitzen um einen Besprechungstisch und schauen für das Foto in die Kamera. Im Hintergrund steht ein Monitor auf dem der Text "Zukunft unternehmen!" steht.

Jetzt mitmachen

*Pflichtfelder

Datenschutzhinweis

Die Daten werden ausschließlich zur Bearbeitung Ihrer Anfrage durch die WESt mbH verwendet und nicht an Dritte weitergegeben. Weitere Informationen gibt es in unserer Datenschutzerklärung unter www.westmbh.de/datenschutz.

Ich bin einverstanden, dass meine Daten zum Zweck der Anmeldung zur Veranstaltung, der Durchführung der Veranstaltung, der Versendung der Veranstaltungsmaterialien und der Einladung zu den künftigen weiteren Veranstaltungen verarbeitet werden. Meine Daten dürfen zu diesen Zwecken bis auf Widerruf verarbeitet, insbesondere erhoben und gespeichert werden. Die Datenschutzerklärung habe ich zur Kenntnis genommen.
Ich möchte den Newsletter der WESt erhalten.

Contact person

Carolin Möllenbeck
Projekt „Zukunft unternehmen!“