Europe has long been one of the main destinations for people with migration backgrounds from various parts of the world. These individuals, driven by various motivations, bring with them a wealth of experiences, talents, and ambitions. Many of them choose to embark on the path of entrepreneurship, giving rise to businesses that not only contribute to the European economy but also enrich the social and cultural fabric of the continent. However, at times, this journey encounters obstacles of various kinds, from bureaucracy to xenophobia.
How can we support and sustain those who choose to embark on this path? The answer to this question will likely be different for each of us, but it has certainly laid the foundation for our collaboration with five other organizations to initiate a new project called Champion.
Businesses run by people with migration backgrounds are a living testament to Europe’s cultural diversity. These businesses often reflect the traditions, skills, and cultural influences of their founders. This leads to greater diversity in the offering of products and services, enriching the commercial and cultural landscape of local communities.
Furthermore, these businesses play a crucial role in promoting social and economic inclusion. By providing employment opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds, they contribute to reducing inequalities and promoting the integration of communities with migration backgrounds into European society.
What we aim to do with Champion over the course of the 24-month project is to provide an accessible path for young people with migration backgrounds. We will do this in six cities: Badajoz (Spain), Palermo (Italy), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Vienna (Austria), Piraeus (Greece).
The goal is to create social enterprises based on cultural heritage and potential success stories, providing adults with migration backgrounds with knowledge, skills, and competencies related to the conception and creation of social enterprises based on cultural heritage.
All of this will be accomplished through research analysis and the study of critical factors related to the creation of social enterprises by people with migration backgrounds in partner countries and the EU, followed by the identification of success stories.
Subsequently, we will conduct empirical research with a focus on success and failure factors for the creation of social enterprises and social initiatives by people with migration backgrounds.
Finally, we will define an action-oriented pedagogical approach and the definition of the competency matrix, the structure, and contents of the Training Program, and the development of the competence assessment and verification method for participants in the training program.
What about training professionals working with and for people with migration backgrounds? Champion has also considered them and will provide them with innovative training methodologies, creating a training package participants report an improvement in their support activities for entrepreneurship and greater willingness of beneficiaries to engage in social entrepreneurship.
About the Project
Champion – Cultural Heritage Based Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation is co-funded by the Erasmus+ program (Key Action 2, Cooperation Partnerships in Adult Education).
Partners
- Global Chamber for Portuguese-speaking Countries (Luxembourg, coordinator)
- Eolas (Spain)
- MyArtist (Greece)
- VAEV (Austria)
- CESIE (Italy)
For further information
Read the Champion project sheet.
Contact Enrico Casacchia, enrico.casacchia@cesie.org