The “Youth-led Enterprise Solutions” project, implemented by the JA Azerbaijan, continues. The seminar is held within the framework of the “Youth Leadership and Professional Development” Program initiated by UNICEF and financed by the European Union. The main goal of the program is to support the development of various solutions proposed by the youth to solve problems of interest and concern. Young people involved in the program work together on social and business-oriented projects and have the opportunity to realize their ideas. During the program, participants will get acquainted with modern business models and develop their projects. The program is implemented with the direct participation of the Binagadi District Youth House, Khazar District Youth House, Mingachevir City Youth House, Shamkir, Bilasuvar, Gazakh Youth Development and Career Centers.
A three-day training program was conducted at the initial stage of the project. The first training sessions aimed to introduce and teach foundations in entrepreneurial project development. The hands-on workshops helped youth to improve their skills.
On the first day of the project, “More than an idea: Design thinking” training was held. During the training, participants were taught about 5 stages of design thinking as an effective way to solve creative problems:
• Build empathy;
• Identify;
• Think;
• Create a prototype;
• Test it.
Then, the youth get acquainted with the knowledge on the integration of design thinking and the development process. In the end, the team worked on activity called “Wallet”.
The second day of the project was devoted to “Proposal based on value”. The participants were taught about the following topics below:
• What is a value-based offer?
• Cost-based supply criteria;
• Value-based supply spectrum;
• Value-based bidding scheme;
• Value-based offer and its customer segment
• Value-based offer and its identification
• How should a value-based proposal be created?
• 4 steps in creating a value-based proposal;
• Strong assessment content;
At the end of the training, participants learned the canvas learning system and performed the task based on it.
The last training of the project covered the topic “From idea to business”. The participants were taught about the following topics below:
• What is a business canvas model?
• Analysis of the structure of the business canvas model;
• Examples of application of business canvas model: “Airbnb” and “Netflix”.
In the end, participants developed new business projects in accordance with the Ostervalder business canvas model.