In early 2010, TakingITGlobal participated in the International Forum on Innovation & Entrepreneurship Led by Youth which took place in Brussels and was hosted by the Extremadura Regional Ministry for Youth & Sport of Spain. At this event, TakingITGlobal was honoured with a Global Youth Talent Award. As a result of our successful involvement with the Ministry, TakingITGlobal forged a partnership to leverage Extremadura as a ‘hub’ of youth empowerment and social innovation.

The Regional Ministry for Youth & Sport is primarily aimed at encouraging personal, social and cultural development of youth. All projects and programs that the Ministry designs and delivers attempt to improve and expand the capacity of youth to take action for the betterment of their own lives and that of the community.

Sprout ES (Sprout in Spanish) is an initiative of TakingITGlobal and the Government of Extremadura aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship among Spanish-speaking youth in Extremadura and worldwide. Based on TakingITGlobal’s innovative Sprout E-course, Sprout ES is a localized and translated version of the classic curriculum originally cultivated with support from Pearson Foundation and evaluation modules developed in partnership with Tufts University. 

A total of 30 participants and 15 e-mentors participated in the pilot of Sprout ES in early 2011. The overall result was an excellent start for this multi-lingual pilot. Of 30 students who began the course 18 have been successful in meeting the requirements of the course work. Overall this is a 60% completion rate. Based on the evaluations conducted, these young leaders have articulated their project growth, skill development and personal satisfaction  throughout the pilot.

In mid-June, Jennifer and I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Region of Extremadura while in Spain for the Talloires Network Leaders Conference. This allowed us to follow-up on the pilot program which ended in the Spring but also to experience the work that the Ministry is undertaking in its region. What we discovered was a veritable "mecca" of creativity, innovation and enterprise.  In Extremadura encouraging inspiration, imagination and resourcefulness is integrated into every element of work, play, community and policy.

Here are a few photos from our journey in Extremadura and our learning about the way to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship.

Jennifer and I find ourselves quite at home at the Inciativa Joven office in the Region of Extremadura, Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anabelle Favreau of Extramadura's Youth Initiative and Jennifer Corriero doodle ideas on one of several chalkboard walls in the Joven Iniciativa office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprout ES is one of many programs and partnerships Iniciativa Joven is co-creating or co-leading.

Jennifer Corriero and Minister Jimenez excitedly announce the presentation of certificates to a group of e-mentors who participated in the pilot of Sprout en Espanol.

 

 

 

 

 

We pose with the Extremadura Minister of Youth & Sport along with the coordination team and mentors of Sprout en Espanol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth Spaces for Creation and the Youth Factory are two examples of supervised spaces encouraging imagination, innovation and self-expression in the Region of Extremadura.

Users of a colourful and edgy youth space pose with Jennifer and I after a tour of this centre for creativity. It features spaces for theatre, dance, recording music, pottery, and multimedia.

 

 

 

 

 

Young people of all ages make use of this dynamic space called the Youth Factory - designed by youth for youth and developed by the Ministry for Youth & Sport. Complete with a computer lab, rock climbing wall and super cool skateboard/bike park.

 

 

 

 

The tables on which computers sit in this lab were reclaimed pallets in which many of the building materials for the Youth Factory were packaged. A resourceful, environmentally-conscious and creative idea!

 

 

 

 

 

The Government of Extremadura’s Regional Ministry for Youth & Sport leverages its role to influence youth, parents, community members, corporations and other EU governments. This Ministry and their work serves as an exemplar and catalyst for youth citizenship & entrepreneurship. We believe other governments around the world should look to this Ministry as a model for how they too can build a culture of creativity, innovation and enterprise.

[Photo credits: (1, 4 & 5) Ministry for Youth & Sport staff, (2, 3 & 7) Kristle Calisto-Tavares, (6) Jennifer Corriero.