In line with the goals of the European Year of Youth 2022, the FAIRPRENEUR Project has two prioritised objectives: 1) improving equal opportunities for all young entrepreneurs to combat youth unemployment and facilitate social participation and 2) promoting socially and environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship for a fair economy. Youth unemployment in Europe, although decreasing, is still high (14% in January 2022), more than double the overall unemployment rate. Current global uncertainties pose a risk of a potential increase in youth unemployment. The FAIRPRENEUR project aligns with the European Union Youth Strategy, which identifies Entrepreneurship Education as a key tool to fight youth unemployment, social exclusion, and promote innovation.
Studies suggest that young people have a high interest in entrepreneurship, yet only a small fraction start their own business due to barriers such as lack of knowledge, skills, and fear of failure. The youth of today are politically and ethically involved, as evidenced by movements like Fridays for Future and protests against the Ukraine war. They are the future driving force for sustainable development. However, they need the right tools today to change the world tomorrow. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrated into Youth Entrepreneurship Education and operationalized in entrepreneurial action, are such tools. The project aims to offer specific, inclusive entrepreneurship education resources to empower young people to start sustainable businesses and promote ethical, sustainable, and fair entrepreneurial behavior.
To address these issues, the project has produced several results:
