YOU CYCLE: A Journey of Social Impact with Young Changemakers for a Circular Economy
In August, we hosted an impactful event as part of the Erasmus+ KA2 project “YOU CYCLE: Young Changemakers for Circular Local Economy.” These “Local Social Impact Hub” events brought together young people eager to make a difference in their communities. With the guidance of local changemaker social entrepreneurs, participants were given the tools and inspiration needed to develop their own social business ideas.
Held on August 3rd and 4th with a group of young people, the event focused on empowering participants with training in the Social Canvas model. This method helps them design sustainable, impactful business ideas centered on the principles of the circular economy. Throughout the sessions, participants worked in small groups, brainstorming and sharing their visions for social enterprises.
At the same time, our partner organizations in Spain (Espacio Geranios) and Greece (Eko Greece) have developed the event alongside local social entrepreneurs.
Since September, we have been offering monthly mentorship and training sessions to continue supporting these young changemakers. By the end of the year, two of the top ideas will be selected, and representatives from each winning team will have the opportunity to join participants from other countries in Istanbul in February 2025 to present their projects on an international stage.
The goal of this initiative is to inspire and equip young people with the skills and knowledge to pursue social entrepreneurship while contributing to a greener, more sustainable economy. This journey doesn’t end with idea generation; through ongoing guidance, participants will have the opportunity to turn their ideas into actionable, impactful ventures.
