Youth Exchange: Start Up Hypothesis #2

Location: Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Dates: 2-13 November 2019

Number of participants: 37 participants

Participating countries: UK, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Spain, Romania

Organizer: Abroadship.org

Apply here: Application form

Deadline to apply: 22 August 2019, with possible selection earlier

Inquiries about this project: Justinas at hello@abroadship.org

Costs: Youth Exchange is co-funded by Erasmus+:

  • 100% accommodation, food and program materials are free, covered by the grant from Erasmus+
  • 80% traveling costs are covered, up to the maximum expenses:
    • €20 (£18.5) / participant for UK;
    • €275 / participant for Lithuania, Spain, Italy;
    • €360 / participant for Greece, Bulgaria, Romania.
  • €20 (£18.5) fee to be paid by each participant. This fee goes as a contribution to the administrative costs of the youth exchange.
  • For traveling reimbursement, it is mandatory to send all your e-tickets, e-invoices, e-boarding passes and e-receipts. If e-documents are not issued, then originals are accepted. Without these, traveling costs cannot be reimbursed.
  • In order to receive traveling reimbursement, it is mandatory to attend full duration of the programme, fill evaluation forms and implement a local activity with your country group.
  • Reimbursements will be made via bank transfer within 1-3 months of the YE after all documents and tasks completed.

Start Up Hypothesis

Download infopack here: Start Up Hypothesis #2 – Erasmus plus – youth exchange – United Kingdom – abroadship.org

Click to access Start-Up-Hypothesis-2.pdf

A traditional path for a young person was to finish education and find a job for life. A contemporary path is to start with international colleagues a social startup, that will make a positive impact.

Unlike most business entrepreneurs, who address current market deficiencies, social entrepreneurs tackle hypothetical, unseen or often less-researched issues. Social entrepreneur pursues novel applications that have the potential to solve community-based problems. These individuals are willing to take on the risk and effort to create positive changes in society through their initiatives.

Start Up Hypothesis is an Erasmus+ project to empower social entrepreneurship eco-system development and stimulate entrepreneurial learning of youngsters.

Project focus

  • To bring 30 youngsters, aged 18 – 30 together and swap experiences of ‘social entrepreneurship in each partner country’
  • Enable youngsters to organise a social initiative in their surroundings, after the youth exchange.
  • Provide space to research, define and share best practices of going from unemployment to social entrepreneurship.
  • Reflect different realities regarding employability and social entrepreneurship in different European countries and cultures.
  • Learn entrepreneurial skillset by practicing, playing, experimenting, using various media forms and raising the hypothesis.
  • Learn how to find funds through fundraising activities, create a project, marketing and communication plan
  • To learn to define the need through debate and dialogue, create and measure a social impact in surrounding – group research and interviews.

Who should attend

You are young (18-30, except leaders) and keen to make a positive impact through social entrepreneurship.

You are searching for a change, would like to learn by playing and experimenting in international teams, love travelling, care about nearby neighbourhood, local, regional, national and international communities and are eager to solve issues.

Additional selection points will be given to disadvantaged youngsters aged 18 – 25.

Programme

Day 1: Arrival to Isle of Wight, informal welcoming and resting up for tomorrow

Day 2 – 4: Introduction. Erasmus+ and Youthpass. Getting to know each other. Team building. Social entrepreneurship. Recognising problems. Project Management. Intercultural exchange.

Day 5 – 6: Media Workshop (Equipment, Composition, Framing). Media Workshop (Sound, Storytelling, Visual grammar)

Day 7 – 8: Local issues. Sustainable Development Goals. Assignments. Community work – how it contributes to growth? Social Enterprises in action.

Day 9 – 10: Social Entrepreneurship beyond. Outcomes of social entrepreneurship. Success stories.

Day 11: Marketing and communication. Outcomes. Marketing tools. Local events. Circle of Creativity. Tips & Tricks. Youth pass, Evaluation of results, Follow up. Closing up

Day 12: Departure from Isle of Wight.

* please note that the programme is a guidance and is subject to changes

“In a start-up venture, all you have are untested hypotheses. You’re collecting data to gain insight and validate your hypothesis” Steve Blank, author and one of the creators of Lean startup concept

Methods used

  • Experiential and entrepreneurial learning through playing
  • Group dynamic processes, simulations and teamwork activities
  • Inputs from experts through non-formal education lectures and facilitated processes
  • Startup Hypothesis testing
  • Dynamic workshops and presentations
  • Outdoor and community assignments
  • Intercultural sharings, learnings and reflections
  • Learning by doing in a group setting or individual processes.

Delivery Style

“Learning by experience” – learning from experiencing different activities and putting them into practice;

“Learning to play, playing to learn” – connected with learning through games, from actions and playful environment;

“Learning through testing hypothesis” – building minimal viable product and getting out to test the prototype

“Learning with social entrepreneurship” – understanding community needs and following the entrepreneurship processes to address the issues

Financial costs

  • 100% accommodation, food and program materials are covered by Erasmus+ and Abroadship.org
  • 80% traveling costs (only pre-approved and the most economical – no first class, no taxi, no special seats, insurances, etc) are covered. Maximum traveling costs:
    • €20/participant for UK;
    • €275/participant for Lithuania, Italy, Spain;
    • €360/participant for Greece, Bulgaria, Romania
  • €20 fee to be paid by each participant. This fee goes as a contribution to the administrative costs of the youth exchange.
  • For traveling reimbursement, it is mandatory to bring all your tickets and invoices, boarding passes and receipts (originals). Without these documents, traveling costs cannot be reimbursed.
  • In order to receive traveling reimbursement, it is mandatory to attend full duration of the programme, fill evaluation forms and implement a local activity with your country group.
  • Reimbursements will be made via bank transfer within 1-3 months of the YE after all documents and tasks completed.

Space

Youth Exchange will happen in YHA Isle of Wight Totland hostel, a large, Edwardian house with a seaside location close to downland cliffs and beaches, ideal for quiet country walks. Hostel is 50 minutes away from famous Needles, where Italian inventor established the world’s first radio in 1896. You will stay in rooms of 2-6 persons, sharing with others toilets and showers.

During your stay you will be asked to support with household duties.

We did it before

Have a look on the previous version of the project we implemented in May. Check the video here: https://youtu.be/BP2KN9IK1Ck

How to Get Here?

Place of arrival: Hurst Hill, Totland Bay PO39 0HD, UK

Arrival instructions: Detailed instructions of arrival will be provided after confirmation of participation.

Use azair.com to find flights to United Kingdom.

Use thetrainline.com to find trains to one of the three ports: Lymington Pier, Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton

It will take 6-7 hours to arrive with buses, trains and ferries from London airports.

Travel will be reimbursed 80%, up to the limits (see Financial costs slide)

Traveling options must be confirmed at hello@abroadship.org prior to the purchase of tickets.

When to Get Here?

Arrival Day: 2nd November

Programme: 3-12 November, in total 10 full days

Departure Day: 13 November

Days allowed to stay in UK: This is a great time to explore Isle of Wight and England (London?). You will not have free time during the programme, thus if you want to discover country, please arrange extra days. You are allowed to come max 6 days before the Youth Exchange or leave max 6 days after the YE, but the total amount of the days that are not part of the programme is max 6 days. If you decide to stay more than 6 days longer than the official programme, you will have to cover the traveling expenses yourself. During all extra days off the programme, you have to find your own accommodation and no other expenses are covered (we just cover flights on different days).

Weather

You are lucky, because Isle of Wight is the sunniest place in UK. However, in November temperature in Isle of Wight ranges from 3 to 9 degrees, sunshine lasts ± 8 hours. Still, of course (not so) beautiful rain is a constant friend and a mandatory discussion subject in all conversations.

Check the weather forecast here.

Food, Medicine & Allergies

During the programme you will be served breakfast, lunch, dinner and 1 or 2 tea breaks. One of the days you will help in the kitchen before the day starts and during breaks, creating a community and co-sharing space and feeling.

If you have illness, physical limitations and/or use medicine we need to know about, please inform us.

If you are vegetarian or have special diet, let us know, indicating what you can and cannot eat, so that we can arrange the suitable food.

How to Apply:

Fill in the application form available:
https://forms.gle/UgLMj2AnqhbHQ3j89

In order to apply for Start Up Hypothesis project, you must 18-30 years old (except leaders) and a citizen of one of the partner countries. Contact the partner organisation from the list below if you need any support.

Abroadship.org United Kingdom hello@abroadship.org
Vagamondo Italy infoyouthprojects@gmail.com
Asociacia Synergy Romania contact@synergyforyou.ro
Synergy LT Lithuania aringa@synergylt.lt
Solidarity Mission Greece training@solidaritymission.org
Ticket2Europe Spain ana.delvalle@ticket2europe.eu
Smokinya Foundation Bulgaria info@smokinya.com

Further information

For information about practical matters, accommodation or how to get to the place, please contact
Abroadship.org at hello@abroadship.org