DO U ACTism is an ambitious project funded by the European Union, aimed at fostering social entrepreneurship to address pressing societal challenges. The project brings together five independent Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from dierent countries: STICHTING MASTERPEACE from the Netherlands, MASTERPEACE MOROCCO from Morocco, LUMEN from Croatia, SIT from Kosovo, and LDN from Lebanon.
The common mission of these NGOs is to mobilize talents for a sustainable future and to contribute significantly to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) – Quality Education – and SDG 16 – Peace and Justice. These organizations collectively bring expertise in non-formal education and youth work, including working with minorities and underprivileged youth. They have a wealth of experience in peace building, youth empowerment, and online collaboration, making them ideal partners for this project.
The cornerstone of DO U ACTism is the Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, a competition designed to foster innovative ideas and initiatives that create meaningful change and impact. This challenge encourages teams of innovators to tackle their communities’ or businesses’ most pressing social issues through creative and sustainable initiatives. By inviting teams to present a business plan and a prototype of their ideas, the challenge focuses on the intersection of technology and social impact, aiming to discover and support the next generation of leaders and innovators.
The objectives of the challenge:
The primary objective of the Social Entrepreneurship Online Challenge is to mobilize young talents to create innovative solutions for pressing social issues. By focusing on SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace and Justice), the challenge aims to:
- Provide solutions and opportunities for all, particularly for marginalized and underprivileged groups.
- Equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to become eective social entrepreneurs.
- Promote the use of technology to drive social impact and innovation.
By working with minorities and underprivileged youth, the project ensures that those who are often left behind have the chance to participate in and benefit from social entrepreneurship initiatives.
Structure and Phases of the Social Entrepreneurship Challenge:
The Social Entrepreneurship Challenge is structured into several phases, each designed to guide participants through the process of developing and refining their social enterprise ideas.
- Online Introductory Session (21st March 2024): The challenge kicked o with an online session that introduced participants to the project’s objectives, the scope of social entrepreneurship, and the expectations for the challenge. This session served as a platform for participants to engage with experts, ask questions, and prepare for the work ahead.
- Online Idea Refinement Meeting: Following the online session, an oine meeting was held where teams were tasked with refining their ideas. This phase was pivotal as it allowed participants to delve deeper into the practical aspects of their proposed social enterprises, fine-tune their business plans, and ready their pitches for the final session. The collaborative environment fostered a sense of community among the participants, encouraging peer learning and networking.
- Final Presentation Session (28th March 2024): The culmination of the DO U ACTism project was the final presentation session, where each team presented their well-prepared ideas to a jury. This session was marked by enthusiasm and showcased innovative solutions to pressing social issues. Teams aimed to convince the jury of their project’s viability and potential for social impact.
The DO U ACTism project’s Social Entrepreneurship Challenge has been a remarkable journey of innovation, empowerment, and impact. By bringing together young talents from five dierent countries, the project has fostered a spirit of collaboration and shared purpose.
The success of the challenge highlights the importance of supporting social entrepreneurship as a means to address pressing social issues and promote sustainable development. As the project moves forward, the experiences and lessons learned from this challenge will undoubtedly shape the future of social entrepreneurship. The journey continues for the participants, particularly the winning team, who will further develop their enterprise and make an even greater impact at the project’s final manifesto in Agadir, Morocco, in December 2024.
The DO U ACTism project stands as a shining example of the EU’s vision for a socially responsible and entrepreneurial society, one where every individual has the chance to make a dierence. The challenge has laid the groundwork for a new generation of social entrepreneurs ready to take on the world’s challenges with innovative solutions and a steadfast commitment to social progress.
