In 2025 between March 6th and 12th, we host an Erasmus+ training course on “How to Be a Greenpreneur”, welcoming participants from six countries including Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Croatia, Latvia and Romania to Cristuru Secuiesc. The week-long program provide hands-on experiences, practical knowledge, and inspiring discussions about green entrepreneurship, sustainability, and business development. Below is a report of our last three days:
Day 5
The morning focused on European green funding opportunities, including Horizon Europe, Green Deal, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, and other EU programs. Participants also researched funding options in their own countries and shared their findings with the group.
In the afternoon, we worked on business plan development. Participants simplified key concepts to make them more accessible for young entrepreneurs. The day ended with an intercultural night, full of presentations, quizzes, music, and traditional food.
Day 6
Participants used graphic facilitation to create visual business guides, covering key areas like market research, organization & management, marketing & sales, product development and finance. We tested these guides with local volunteers, who brainstormed green business ideas like:
– A café using green energy and reusable equipment
– A petting zoo with rescued animals
– A shelter café providing leftover food for homeless people
– The first silk worm farm in Transylvania
Participants guided discussions, helping volunteers refine their ideas. Seeing international participants and local youth collaborating and inspiring each other was a truly motivating experience.
Day 7
On the final day, participants wrote their Youthpass certificates using their daily diary reflections. To support the process, we reviewed all the activities, skills, and competencies gained throughout the week.
Then, representatives from partner organizations brainstormed future collaborations. We also explored sustainable travel with the Greendex app, calculating the project’s carbon footprint.
Before saying goodbye, participants evaluated the week via Google Forms and played a Dixit reflection game, choosing a card that best represented their experience.
The final Youthpass ceremony was a heartwarming moment, as participants received certificates, motivational letters, and small gifts from their secret friend.
This training course combined theory with hands-on experience, allowing participants to develop sustainable business models while fostering a strong community spirit. Furthermore, participants gained valuable skills, built meaningful connections, and left feeling inspired.
The week was filled with knowledge, collaboration, and new friendships – we can’t wait to see the green businesses that will grow from this experience!