Date of label : 29/10/2024
A group of children engaged in a creative art activity, likely a workshop or a classroom setting.
Summary
The Entrepreneurial Kids project in Lublin (PL) was designed to teach children aged 6-10 essential entrepreneurial skills through interactive workshops, company visits, and creative activities. This initiative fosters innovation, creativity, and teamwork among young participants. Since its inception in 2018, over 2 100 children have benefitted from the programme, gaining insights into economics and business. The project was recognised at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards by the European Commission, and is a collaborative effort between the City of Lublin, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS), and the National Bank of Poland. This programme not only promotes entrepreneurial thinking but also integrates practical experiences to prepare children for future economic challenges.
The solutions offered by the Good Practice
Entrepreneurial Kids has completed six editions so far, with each edition involving 15 groups (about 350 children). The project’s phases:
I. Training for teachers and university students.
II. Workshops for children led by UMCS students:
- "Let’s Get to Know Each Other": Introducing project mascot "Businessperson goat" and teaching social skills.
- "The Tough Concept – Entrepreneurship": Explaining entrepreneurial terms.
- "My Passion, Talent": Encouraging children to discuss their interests.
"Our Classroom Company": Teaching business planning and logo creation; each group establishes a classroom company (mainly handicrafts). Children often sell their products, for example, at charity fairs.
III. Each group visits a local company to learn about its operations.
IV. Sessions with creative industry professionals.
V. Each group envisions Lublin in 10 years, creating a piece of a city map.
VI. Final Gala: participants review the project and combine puzzle pieces to form a map of Lublin.
Key benefits for the children:
- Increased understanding of entrepreneurship.
- Enhanced problem-solving skills.
- A collaborative spirit, building a foundation for future entrepreneurial endeavours.
The programme aims to expand to reach more children, incorporate digital entrepreneurship modules, and enhance follow-up activities to track its long-term impacts. The project is in line with the Lublin 2030 Strategy.
Building on the sustainable and integrated urban approach
The Entrepreneurial Kids project in Lublin uses an integrated approach to tackling urban challenges, by simultaneously addressing environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
Environmental: The project incorporates sustainability into its workshops by encouraging children to use recycled materials creatively. This hands-on approach helps children understand the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable practices from a young age.
Economic: The project introduces children to entrepreneurship, teaching them skills like business planning, company operations, and innovation. Setting up mock companies and creating business plans gives children practical experience and fosters an entrepreneurial mindset, preparing them for future economic challenges.
Social: The project enhances social skills and teamwork through group activities, teaching children about the importance of cooperation, communication, and mutual respect. It promotes inclusivity by involving diverse groups, helping build a cohesive and supportive community.
Based on participatory approach
The project uses a participatory approach involving multiple stakeholders:
- Children: Active participants in workshops, company study visits, and actvities, including setting up mock businesses.
- Teachers: Trained to deliver content and guide children.
- University students (from UMCS Students): Conduct workshops, providing peer-to-peer learning.
- Local businesses: Host study visits, offering real-world business insights.
- Creative professionals: Lead workshops, fostering innovation and artistic expression.
The project engages local businesses, with the contribution of creative professionals ensuring the children hear diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship and creativity. All stakeholders are involved in the project on a non-profit basis.
Over 2 100 children have participated since 2018, with positive feedback from participants and stakeholders. The project’s recognition at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards underscores its effectiveness and broad-based support.
What difference has it made?
Entrepreneurial Kids was the first entrepreneurial education project implemented by the Lublin City Office. Its positive reception has led to similar activities being targeted at other age groups (primary schools, secondary schools and universities).
The project’s spectrum of activities has been undertaken in response to various local socio-economic problems: low awareness of the potential of Lublin's economy among students, teachers and parents, insufficient motivation among young people to start their own business ventures, and low levels of cooperation.
Positive changes due to the project include:
- Business partners have become more open to cooperation with schools.
- Schools in their feedback confirm that it has increased their awareness of the importance of entrepreneurial education from the youngest pupils.
- Children, parents and teachers have gained knowledge about the local economy. After the project, both children and their carers begin to consciously choose the products of local companies.
- Motivation for teachers to expand their knowledge about business planning and marketing.
To date, approximately 2 100 children, 1 000 teachers and 50 companies have participated in the six project editions.
Why this Good Practice should be transferred to other cities
The project is highly relevant for other European cities because it fosters entrepreneurial skills in children, encouraging innovation and creativity from an early age. This approach helps build a future generation adept at problem-solving and business thinking, which is essential for economic development and competitiveness.
The project aligns with:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality education) and SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth).
- The Urban Agenda for the EU.
The EU Territorial Agenda 2030, by fostering inclusive and sustainable urban development through education and innovation.
It is not tied to any specific national legislation, but rather operates within the local governance framework of Lublin, Poland. Therefore, its execution relies on the support and policies of the local government and educational authorities.
The project’s core objective—to foster entrepreneurial skills among children—is universally applicable. Adapting it to different cities requires some modifications to ensure its effectiveness.
To transfer the project effectively:
- Assess needs: Research local education policies and cultural context.
- Engage stakeholders: Work with local authorities, schools, and parents.
- Customise programme: Adapt the curriculum to fit local standards.
- Find financial support and other resources.
- Provide training for local teachers.
- Pilot programme: Test in a few schools and gather feedback.
- Improve based on feedback.
- Roll out the programme to more schools.
The project has inspired other local educational communities. In 2021, the Dabrowa Polish Saturday School in Cambridge (UK) ran a similar project. In 2022, representatives of the Łesia Ukrainka Volyn National University (Lutsk) visited Lublin and learned how to implement the project in Ukraine, where it has now run for three editions.