Business without Borders (BWB)

The BWB project was initiated by a group of young people who sought to establish a network of peers trained in business skills who are keen to share ideas, knowledge, and information related to implementing small business start-ups working regionally. The structure of the programme emphasises the full participation of youth in developing activities and strategies for facilitating economic development and intercultural networking. Activities are organised by a core group of young people united in a Co Ltd Executive Board structure that is based on democratic principles. In brief, project activities include:

• Training groups of young entrepreneurs in creating business links and establishing trade with other countries - through in-person training sessions
• Establishing entrepreneurial centres that will encourage young entrepreneurs to play a more active and participatory role in their country's development and that will work to help them gain assistance in terms of experience, understanding of finance management, and moral support
• Creating business and trade links with the countries of the UK/SEE region through establishment of partnerships and agreements.

Specifically, the 2-year programme centres around connecting and capacitating young people through a series of training sessions that aim to build participants' awareness of business, trade and manufacturing. This first phase aims to provide the young entrepreneurs with theoretical and practical training about the business world. During the workshops, "freethinking will be encouraged in order to share and develop new ideas and solve common problems." To cite a specific example, the first part of the training for 25 young entrepreneurs (especially those interesting in starting businesses drawing on tourism and new technologies) from Bulgaria took place near Gabrovo in November 2005. The second seminar in that country will take place in February 2006. Participants will be asked to produce a business plan which will be reviewed by peers and experts.

In the second year, the project will become more focused on actually creating, or helping to create, viable small businesses through a process of direct participation.

Evaluation is a key focus of BWB. In Macedonia, for example, each of the 4 training sessions is accompanied by an in-depth evaluation report. In addition, each project activity will be surveyed by written and oral evaluations, and will include reports submitted by all cooperating teams through a website, as well as inspections conducted by Executive Board of Directors, members of the BWB network, and representatives of the British Embassy. In this country in particular, a key indicator of the programme's progress is the active involvement of a large number of participants, and whether that number is increasing. The presentations and workshops are evaluated through anonymous queries, in an effort to ensure that participants feel free to express their opinions. Web-based discussions are designed to provide the team with feedback about the real-life implications of the overall campaign.

Youth, Economic Development.

According to organisers, "The rate of youth unemployment in SEE, poor economic development and negative perceptions of each other are facts. On the other hand the best asset of these countries is the new generation's creativity and motivation to develop and to be competitive in a fast changing world. Cross-border collaboration in SEE and with UK in the area of business can help provide employment for young people and can also create a better atmosphere in the region."

BWB is part of the British Council's Youth Action programme, which consists of some 130 young people, 35 from UK and 12 from each SEE country, who met for the first time in September 2005 in Macedonia. Each country selected its core group in June/July 2004, and then gathered for the Krushevo Youth Action Week in September 2004. Candidates came to Krushevo with experience and ideas about possible projects in the main theme areas around which activities were expected to evolve - active citizenship, helping develop entrepreneurial, leadership and other practical skills in young people. Youth Action is geared toward "developing dialogue and building networks between young leaders in the UK and South East Europe."