Workshop: Social Entrepreneurship and Migration – Analysis and discussion on actions for development
The Mediterranean Migration Network (MMN) organized a workshop on “Social Entrepreneurship and migration – Analysis and discussion on actions for development” on Thursday 29 May at Hilton Park, Nicosia. The workshop focused on social entrepreneurship as a good practice for migrants’ integration in the local societies and the market. Participants to the workshop were professionals and practitioners from different organizations, both public and private, working in the area of migration.
A presentation on the basic values of social entrepreneurship was delivered and discussed by participants. The general idea of social entrepreneurship is the formation of a company that follows a number of standards by providing the opportunity for less advantaged groups – in this case migrants groups. Basic objective of this type of companies is, to be able to socially contribute and at the same time have revenues to ensure sustainability. Good examples showed that this type of entrepreneurship can be both sustainable and innovative, providing at the same time the opportunity for social benefit to the society.
During the workshop, good practices were presented as guides for future implementation in the Cyprus context. Participants then worked in groups to identify the main challenges of migration today and present different types of social enterprises that could address some of the challenges migrants face. Interesting ideas were presented focusing on vulnerable migrants groups that need financial and social assistance.
Within the workings of the Mediterranean Migration Network, a local stakeholders meeting took place on Friday, 30th May at the CARDET offices in Nicosia.
CARDET invites you to the MMN International Conference titled "Migration and Integration: the role of social services". The conference will take place on June 20, between 9:00 - 13:30 at the UNESCO Amphitheatre, University of Nicosia.
CARDET after an invitation from the Ministry of Education and Culture, on Wednesday 30th of April, attended a presentation on development on Education and Sustainable Development, where it presented the following projects:
- “Intercultural Joint Awareness Raising – In.J.Awa.Ra” is a EuropeAid project which promotes the intercultural dialogue among the Global Youth
- “Make the Link”, a EuropeAid funded project, which envisions integrating issues around Technology Justice and Sustainable Development into the Design and Technology, Physics and Home Economics curricula of the formal education in Cyprus
- “Global Campus”, a EuropeAid project taking a non-formal, global learning, experiential approach that aims to increase the awareness, critical understanding and informed, constructive action for development of University students and other key stakeholders in the EU.
CARDET, after an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday 13th May, attended a meeting on the National Program for the European Year of Development 2015, where it presented the following projects:
- “Intercultural Joint Awareness Raising – In.J.Awa.Ra” is a EuropeAid project which promotes the intercultural dialogue among the Global Youth
- “Make the Link”, a EuropeAid funded project, which envisions integrating issues around Technology Justice and Sustainable Development into the Design and Technology, Physics and Home Economics curricula of the formal education in Cyprus
- “Global Campus”, a EuropeAid project taking a non-formal, global learning, experiential approach that aims to increase the awareness, critical understanding and informed, constructive action for development of University students and other key stakeholders in the EU.
During February-March 2014, each Mothers and Children in L2 (L2M) partner conducted national research and completed a national research report, all of which were compiled in April by CARDET into a collective research report. The purpose of the national reports was to provide information on the current situation in each partner country regarding migration trends and the needs, challenges of migrant mothers of children aged 2-6.
The Alphabets of Europe (AlphaEU) Consortium has successfully completed the development of the digital alphabet books and activities that form one of the major deliverables within the framework of the project.
The digital books and activities, which are available on the project’s website, focus on themes that have been pre-selected by the Consortium as the most common and appropriate based on pre-primary curricula in the partner countries; Farm, School, Home, City, and Country.
The Science Fiction in Education (SciFiEd) Consortium held its third partner meeting in Pitesti, Romania. During the meeting, the partners discussed the progress of the project, the outcomes to date, and the upcoming work.
Even prior to the current crisis in Europe, an enabling environment for innovative entrepreneurship was difficult to find for entrepreneurial women from disadvantaged backgrounds. With the financial crisis now in full swing across most of the continent, opportunities for support and training that improve prospects are fewer still and far between.
The project partners conducted a needs assessment research in order to examine the levels and nature of unemployment among women in partner countries and map the training and support currently available for business start-ups, identifying the gaps in provision.
Within the framework of the digital platform for youth and development, CARDET organizes a number of twinning with Cameroonian organisations to discuss education and development issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The 21st centrury has presented us with new opportunities and challenges and requires a different approach to development. In our fast-changing world, it is necessary for young people to acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to adapt.
