Publication date: 23.11.2021
On the occasion of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, USAID’s Program After School Support for Teens - ASSET organized “Developing entrepreneurship skills among teens” activity, which was held on 10 November 2021 in Prishtina.
***During 8-14 November 2021, Global Entrepreneurship Week, hereinafter GEW, organized in Kosovo by Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK), promoted entrepreneurship through local activities designed to highlight the potential of young entrepreneurs. In this regard, the Program, as one of the organizing partners, gathered 50 school principals, teachers, students and MESTI representatives to discuss about the development of entrepreneurial skills among teens.
In the opening remarks, the private sector officer representing USAID mission in Kosovo, Mr. Metthew Culinane said among others: “By developing entrepreneurial skills you will learn how to become successful and thus help your country in its development road”. While the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Chief of Cabinet, Ms. Edita Buçinca, in her opening remarks on behalf of the Minister Nagavci stressed out the institutionalization of program activities, extending them further to other educational and training institutions.
The Program Director, Ms. Valmira Haxhaj Gushlla, while highlighting curricular requirements in Kosovo for training students on entrepreneurial skills, the Program’s work with gymnasia in this direction, motivated them to continue with the entrepreneurship activities with the next generations. “We will continue to support you this year with advice and materials on how to carry out this activity and we hardly wait to see new ideas for entrepreneurship and their implementation”, she said
The activity was also attended by Ms. Jeta Zagragja, co-founder of UCX company, who shared her experience in entrepreneurship and motivated students to develop team work skills, critical and creative thinking, persistence in order to achieve their objectives in life and work.
“Since you have already been engaged in such activities, working on advancing soft skills and other technical skills to establish enterprises implies that you have already started paving the path toward the success”, she added.
After the opening remarks, participants had the opportunity to hear about the enterprise that “Xhelal Hajda-Toni” from Rahoveci established. This event, which after a long time was organized face-to-face, had a great impact on participants. Temal Haliti from “Kuvendi i Lezhës” gymnasium in Viti said about the conference: “it was really a great experience and I think that such events of great interest for teens must be organized more often”. For teacher Litvana Spahija from “Hajdar Dushi” Gymnasium in Gjakova said that entrepreneurship related activities are very necessary because this way young people get prepared for labour market. The event was closed with the presentations of students from 5 working groups comprised of participating schools. Among others, they also discussed about actions that must be taken by the education and business sector that the development of entrepreneurship skills must be applied fully in school. The program is drafting the event summary report which will be shared with stakeholders.
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To support partner schools in achieving entrepreneurial competencies, the Program trained 85 teachers and around 2,300 students benefited from the training on entrepreneurship. Under the supervision of the trained teachers in 16 partner municipalities, 88 training enterprises were established.
Also, to mark the GEW week, program representatives participated in the official opening of GEW at “Fostering Entrepreneurial Spirit through schooling” Forum, which was organized by American Chamber of Commerce, and Career Club students of “Xhavit Ahmeti” gymnasium were guests in the “Who was I before I know who I was” event.
Pictures from the event.
*** The “After School Support for Teens” program is funded by USAID and implemented by the Kosovo Education Center (KEC) in partnership with FHI360 and Crimson Capital Corp.
