Youth@Work Seminar - Sport & Entrepreneurship

Description

Are you a youth worker, educator, sports coach, project coordinator or practitioner interested in how sport can support entrepreneurial learning, employability and wellbeing among young
people? Join the upcoming Youth@Work Seminar on Sport & Entrepreneurship, an international learning activity that will explore how sport can foster entrepreneurial competences, contribute to healthier and more sustainable lives, and inspire innovative initiatives.

The seminar will take place in a mountain setting in Madesimo, in Valtellina (Valle Spluga), in northern Lombardy, Italy.

It will bring together participants from different backgrounds to reflect on sport not only as a tool for physical activity and health, but also as a space where initiative, teamwork, resilience, creativity and responsibility can be developed in meaningful ways, to help youth develop entrepreneurial competencies.

Practical information
• Venue: 23024 Madesimo (SO), Italy.
• Dates: 22-26 June 2026 (arrival on 22 June, departure on 26 June).
• Working language: English.
• Number of participants: 25

Aim of the seminar
The overall aim of the seminar is to strengthen the capacity of youth work and related fields to connect sport, entrepreneurship and youth employability. With an experiential learning
approach, and through peer learning, reflection and exchange of practices and inspirational good practices, the activity will explore how sport can help young people develop
entrepreneurial competences, improve their health and wellbeing in relation to work, and generate innovative ideas, projects and opportunities.

Profile of participants
The seminar is designed for participants who are interested in the relationship between sport and entrepreneurship and who would like to strengthen their practice in this area.

• Youth workers, youth leaders, trainers, facilitators and educators working with young people.
• Coaches, practitioners and professionals active in sport clubs, federations, organisations, & grassroots, community-based or educational sport contexts.
• Representatives of youth organisations, NGOs, community initiatives or informal groups.
• Project coordinators, local or public actors, and practitioners working on youth employability, wellbeing, entrepreneurship, sport or social inclusion.

Objectives

Objectives of the seminar

● Reflect on how participation in sport can foster valuable competences among young people, with particular attention to entrepreneurship competences such as taking the initiative, teamwork, leadership, creativity and perseverance.

● Get to know the EntreComp competence framework and understand its potential and possible uses in developing and implementing quality learning opportunities for young people in the youth work and sport field. 

● Examine the positive impact of sport on the health and wellbeing of young people in the labour market, both as employees and as entrepreneurs.

● Get inspired and share methods, experiences and practical approaches that connect non-formal learning, sport, and entrepreneurship.

● Encourage future cooperation, project development and follow-up activities among participants and organisations involved in the seminar

● Deepen the understanding of the Erasmus+/European Solidarity Corps EU Programmes and how they can impact youth competences and foster social entrepreneurship.

Methods and methodology

Working approach
The seminar will use non-formal education methods and create an interactive learning space based on participation, exchange and reflection. The programme is expected to include
workshops, facilitated discussions, peer-learning sessions, practical examples, moments of collective reflection, outdoor sports sessions and opportunities to connect the seminar learning with participants’ own realities and future actions.

Safety and accessibility
The venue of the event and the activities are accessible to everyone; the evening programmes are optional. In this event, the NAs and the organisers follow the principles of a safe space. We strive to ensure that everyone is met at their own self and that no one has to fear discrimination or harassment. We expect the participants to respect the same principle.

Youth@Work Partnership

This event is part of the Youth@Work Partnership on Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship of Erasmus+ National Agencies. Youth@Work is the alliance of the Erasmus+/European Solidarity Corps National Agencies of Italy (the leading NA), Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Republic of North Macedonia, Spain, and Türkiye, as well as of the SALTO-YOUTH Eastern Europe and Caucasus (Poland), SALTO-YOUTH South East Europe (Slovenia) and SALTO-YOUTH Training and Cooperation (Germany) Resource Centres. It has been running since January 2018. For more information about Youth@Work, please visit our website – www.youthatworkpartnership.org and social media channels.