EMPOWER: Encouraging Migrant women to seize their Potential and Opportunities in the World of EntRepreneurship
LTTA, 4th – 8th September 2023, Ljubljana
This week are hosting the EMPOWER International training in Ljubljana. Together with ISA Institut, we welcomed participants from Germany, Sweden, Italy, and Slovenia. Read about our first two days here.
Wednesday was filled with innovation and sustainability. We began by translating our ideas into action, exploring the Disney creative strategy, which consists of three levels: dreamer, realist and critic. We asked ourselves what our vision is (dreamer), how we will implement the vision (realist) and why (critic). A dreamer focuses on developing creativity by creating and sharing innovative ideas and solutions. At the Realist stage, the focus shifts to reality and figuring out how to translate an idea into a practical action plan. It is characteristic of the Critic that he identifies all the shortcomings of the mentioned idea and leads to the elimination of these shortcomings or the complete abandonment of the idea.
Later in the day, we relocated to the serene Ljubljanica river, where we delved into transforming everyday items into more sustainable alternatives. Our discussions extended to various aspects, including materials, manufacturing, packaging, and end-of-life considerations. It was a day of creative exploration and sustainable thinking. In addition, we also participated in an activity that revolved around the transformation of bad ideas into good ones, which encouraged creativity and innovation.
Thursday began with a warm welcome back from Jerneja, setting a positive tone for what lays ahead. We kicked off with warm-up activities that helped us shake off any morning drowsiness.
The majority of the day was dedicated to the development of ideas and even the creation of product prototypes. Throughout this process, we delved into valuable lessons on resource management, financial literacy, and economic understanding. It was a day of innovation and creativity as we brainstormed and honed our ideas, taking them from concept to tangible prototypes.
We focused on entrepreneurship and how to sell our visions in an interesting and effective way. We were introduced to the Canvas Business Model, which provides an overview to help identify service delivery requirements and more. We got acquainted in detail with the key players of the company/product, activities and resources, customer relations, …
One highlight of the day was our exploration of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, where individuals can gather funds for their innovative projects. This opened up new possibilities and insights into the world of entrepreneurship.
Amidst all the learning and hard work, there was also a lot of joy in the air. Lunchtime brought a delightful surprise as we savored African cuisine from Skuhna, a suggestion from one of the migrant women who participated in our roundtable discussions. The flavors of the meal served as a reminder of the diverse perspectives and experiences that make Empower such a enriching and empowering experience for all involved.
On Friday, we successfully completed the Empower training program, marking the culmination of our dedicated efforts. It was a momentous occasion as all of us received well-deserved certificates, symbolizing our achievement and growth throughout the course.
We started with an activity called the Smile cocktail party. We learned about non-verbal communication, how to greet someone with just your eyes, how to greet someone with a smile, etc.
We then turned our attention to our strengths. We delved into how we had discovered and honed these strengths during the training period and discussed strategies for sharing our newfound knowledge with others, helping them unlock their potential as well.
Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the entire course, reflecting on the various modules, materials, and activities that had shaped our learning journey. This feedback was invaluable in fine-tuning the program for future participants and ensuring its continued effectiveness.
As the day drew to a close, there were heartfelt goodbyes, tinged with a sense of accomplishment and nostalgia. The bonds we had formed over the course of our training were strong, and though the journey had ended, the impact of Empower would undoubtedly continue to resonate in our personal and professional lives.
More about the project “𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩”:
Website https://empower-erasmus.eu/en/the-project/
FB group https://tinyurl.com/y4ju2vp7
YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@empowerproject2024
