Learning, tolerance, respect, culture and entrepreneurship is our focus. Together, two European partner organisations  developed an entrepreneurial concept based on hands-on activities to bring Entrepreneurship related soft skills closer to young people with special educational needs and extend this concept to school children in vocational subjects; textile & wood craft. Our knowledge is based on hands-on experiences with informal learning and empowerment through stays abroad and mobility projects. 

The LENE 2.o Model

The LENE model is based on activating pupils and NEET youngsters and empower them through entrepreneurial activities. The method is based on hands-on learning by doing with support from local/ LENE entrepreneurs. The model is simple and takes youngsters through three steps;

1) Basic understanding of entrepreneurship: Here the focus is on a realistic understanding of entrepreneurship with local connection, necessary skills, what are my own skills and strengths; reflection of oneself.

2) The role of entrepreneurs in society: what would my local area be like without entrepreneurs? The understanding of entrepreneurship in society and its impact on local political life. How can I contribute to a better more attractive local area? 

3) Realisation of my idea; take my idea from paper to a real product or service and present final result at an event with an audience consisting of family, friends, entrepreneurs, municipality and other relevant local stakeholders. During this phase, LENE entrepreneurs are supporting youngsters wherever needed, guiding them through a basic marketing mix knowledge based upon the realisation of their own idea.

From Sept. 22 - October 23 Coordination Europe Sweden and Eucon e.V. Germany have developed a practical real life non-formal learning environment learning-by-doing concept for entrepreneurial soft- and hard skills for young adults (16-29 yrs.) and for school children (11-15 yrs.). 

Two pilot schools in Småland and one in Bavaria worked together with us on this development. We targeted existing vocational educational elements such as sewing and woodwork, art, home economics and sports as having great entrepreneurial potential and area for further development through realistic projects in cooperation with local entrepreneurs, municipality and local organisations.

The aim was to capture children and young adults who are not cut out for typical school standards, open up opportunities and create a vision together, giving these young people practical knowledge and skills that enable future entrepreneurship as an alternative in life. 

Handicraft can be, is, very much about entrepreneurial theory put into practice. And about how practice and theory can be taught through self organised learning-by-doing.

A pilot concept was created based on non-formal Mobility learning environments and tested in 2022-2023 in collaboration between school staff, LENE project staff, product managers from world leading industry, researchers and scientists in the field.

Mobility (abroad stay) for young adults is, according to us, still the best way to develop yourself and to become who you want to be. If an abroad stay is not possible, the LENE entrepreneurial concept can be used for youngsters and pupils in schools. The reality aspect of LENE entrepreneurial learning, the collaboration with local entrepreneurs and local society create an inspiring and motivating setting for the pupils to grow and take the next step in their lives, maybe as entrepreneurs!

LENE 2.o has been a preparatory project. Next aim for us is the project LENE 3.0, which intends to host and send young adult entrepreneurs between partner organisations in Europe. This offering might also be available as an extracurricular activity for schoolchildren which would allow practical experience, learning-by-doing and seeing how sourcing, production, negotiation, product & project management etc is done in real life (if possible, integration as a module in school curricula would be fantastic!).

Since 2011 we have successfully been working hands-on with non-formal learning environments, Mobility and Entrepreneurship. With LENE 2.o these experiences were turned into a concept. Almost 17 000 youngsters have participated in the IdA program (now ALMA; Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve), where 50-60% of the youngsters find their next step in life through this kind of working. Now we aim to implement a similar program with an entrepreneurial focus for youth in Småland and Bavaria. Now we need to find funding opportunities to help us offer Mobilities to our youth!