Participation, as young people’s say in society, expressing their wishes and making their voices heard, and entrepreneurship as young people’s initiatives, ideas and activities and the execution of those just as the young people want and need. Participation and entrepreneurship in the youth field go hand in hand in creating broad-based opportunities for self-development and applying the maximal potential for the benefit of themselves, young people or the community.
Participation and entrepreneurship are equally necessary components in activities aimed at a young target group. Otherwise, it would be impossible to ensure the success of the activity, initiative, or service, because it is unknown whether it meets the expectations, needs, challenges, or opportunities of the target group. It is also important to involve the target group through activities or development, in a way that they would initiate or lead different processes, bear different roles and tasks suitable for their abilities. Therefore, the most important link in activities that are aimed at young people is their own participation, involvement and self-employment, responsibility, and gaining experience.
The contribution of young people themselves and their own ideas, be it a project, café, own initiative, or volunteering, supports courage, expressing opinions, independence, development of work habits, initiative, entrepreneurial interest, and many other qualities in youth.
What is participation?
Youth participation means that young people have a say in decisions that concern them, whether at home, school, hometown or municipality, but also in Estonia, Europe, and potentially even all over the world. The basis of participation is inclusion.
- Inclusion means activities that create a suitable environment for participation and inclusion is a situation where you can realise yourself according to your abilities and wishes.
- In active participation, young people make their own decisions and offer solutions, and in passive participation they participate in the activities offered by society.
- A form of participation is a combination of an agreed upon structure and principles, e.g. youth council, student council, and an opportunity of participation is an irregular activity with structure or format, e.g. a participatory café or youth parliament.
What is entrepreneurship?
Youth entrepreneurship is expressed in the ability of young people to act in an active and motivated manner. It includes the will to dream, create, bring to life, initiate, set goals, realise, solve, and carry out. The basis of entrepreneurship is will.
- A set of qualities and attitudes that an entrepreneurial person has, brings together creativity, initiative, responsibility, caring, implementation, and planning. Problem solving, cooperation skills, and communication are equally important.
- Initiating and executing ideas is common for an entrepreneurial person, and self-management as coping with one’s feelings, self motivation, and development, is important.
- The concepts of “entrepreneurship” and “entrepreneurial mindset” are not synonyms, meaning their definitions are not the same, but they are closely related. Simply put, an entrepreneurial attitude is an important component of entrepreneurship (business, student company) and the activities of an entrepreneur, as it supports and contributes to the implementation and management of ideas.
Explanation of concepts:
- Entrepreneurship: business activity (sole proprietorship, limited liability company, joint-stock company, etc.) aimed at making a profit, i.e., earning money through the sale of goods (such as clothing, furniture, food, etc.) or services (such as snow removal, training, IT development, etc.).
- Entrepreneur: a business owner and manager (100% of the profit, i.e., money, goes to one person) or a partner (profit is shared among several people according to an agreed percentage), who sells goods or services for payment, i.e., money.
- Entrepreneurial mindset or attitude: the qualities of an initiative-taking, motivated, creative, and courageous person who aims to change, accomplish, or achieve something (for example, someone who wants to solve a problem and seeks ways to do so, etc.).
Sources:
- Edu ja Tegu Entrepreneurship education programme, website https://ettevotlusope.edu.ee/.
- Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, website: https://www.koda.ee/et/uudised/ettevotlikkuse-projektijuht-milleks-meile-ettevotlikkus
- Estonian National Youth Council, website: www.enl.ee/noorte-osalus/
- EAS (Enterprise Estonia), website: https://www.eas.ee/alustav/ettevotjaks-saamise-otsus/sobivus-ettevotjaks/
- Inclusion Handbook for Officials and NGOs: https://issuu.com/emsl/docs/kaasamise_k_siraamat
- Youth Information Handbook: www.teeviit.ee/noorteinfo
