Young Green Entrepreneurs
Developing Green Entrepreneurship Skills and Competencies of Young People in Sweden, Germany and Türkiye
This Erasmus+ project (01.09.2025 – 31.12.2026) empowers youth (also NEET) to develop green ideas into real opportunities for a sustainable future; the skills, knowledge, and spirit needed.
Together with local partners, young people will create green job ideas and explore real opportunities for eco-friendly entrepreneurship.
By combining training, mentorship, and collaboration with communities, the project helps shape tomorrow’s green leaders while supporting the goals of the European Green Deal and EU Youth Strategy.
Young Green Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship & sustainable ideas
for positive change!
What we are providing
We provide young people in rural areas with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to shape their own green business ideas. Through training, mentoring, and collaboration, participants explore practical solutions for everyday challenges – from local food and recycling initiatives to small-scale energy and eco-tourism ideas. Together with local partners, we support them in developing green projects and business cases that can grow and ideally respond to the needs of their communities. The project helps young people turn climate challenges into real opportunities for a greener, more sustainable future.
Learn skills
Build confidence
Create impact
Grow networks
How do we work
We work through hands-on training, mentoring, and local partnerships, giving young people the tools to design and test their own green projects. By connecting them with peers and experts regionally as well as across Europe, we empower each other and turn ideas into practical steps toward sustainable livelihoods.
The easy way to start
1.
Sign up
2.
Get inspired
3.
Shape your idea
4.
Make it real !
🚀 The YGE Challenge Starts Now!
Send in your business idea before the 30 November 2025 or 1st of April 2026 and let's get started!
✨ 2-3 ideas (ca. 6 youngsters) per country will be selected to participate in the challenge 🇩🇪 🇸🇪 🇹🇷
We will support you in the development of your idea, November 2025 - June 2026;
We get together -> What is an entrepreneur / entrepreneurship -> Good regional examples -> Meeting with entrepreneurs, companies and other relevant stakeholders -> Presentation of your idea -> Brainstorming and Roadmap for your idea -> Pilot phase -> Implementation?!
🏆 The winning idea of the Young Green Entrepreneurship Challenge will travel to Dalyan, Türkiye, in October 2026 (Week 42)! (max 3 persons)
If you are an entrepreneur, company, school, local government, organisation or just interested to be part of our work - talk to us!
💌 Contact us via: info@coordinationeurope.org
🌱💡 Grow your ideas – talk to us! 🗣️
Contact Us
Ongoing!
September 2025
Türkiye – Project Update
The Young Green Entrepreneurs (YGE) project in Dalyan is off to a great start! The team has been busy building connections with local councils, vocational schools, and entrepreneurs in the Ortaca region, while refreshing partnerships with familiar stakeholders.
A lively kick-off meeting was held on September 25, where participants shared creative ideas for green initiatives - from protecting wildlife and developing eco-trails to exploring renewable energy and tackling waste issues. The next focus is on expanding the network and reaching young people through connections and social media to inspire them to join the YGE journey.
October 2025
Sweden - Project Update
The Young Green Entrepreneurs (YGE) project in Småland has kicked off with great energy! During the start-up phase, we’ve reached out to our local partners, entrepreneurs, educators, mapped target groups, and begun developing the first youth-led green business idea!
Exciting collaborations are underway to join forces and inspire young people to take their first steps into entrepreneurship with sustainable aspects. Our first team is on their way!
With the launch of the YGE Challenge, our community of young innovators will grow!
November 2025
Germany - Project Update
Eucon e.V. has been busy laying the groundwork for the project in Munich. We’ve started the first conversations with potential social service providers to explore how Green Entrepreneurship can be integrated into their ongoing youth work.
The focus is on building partnerships and identifying the right structures to reach disadvantaged young people effectively. At the same time, we are preparing the first workshop concepts and adapting proven tools from previous Erasmus+ projects (LENE+ and LENE 2.0) for the local context.
December 2025
The Young Green Entrepreneurs (YGE) project has progressed to various degrees across the three partner countries, focusing on building networks, engaging youth, and fostering sustainable entrepreneurship.
So far, the project has:
- Established local partnerships with schools, councils, and entrepreneurs
- Engaged young people through workshops and collaborative sessions
- Started developing youth-led green business ideas
- Laid the groundwork for future workshops, challenges, and initiatives
These efforts set the stage for 2026, when the focus will shift to expanding the youth community, piloting initiatives, and promoting innovation for sustainability.
Happy New Year 2026!
We’re excited for a year of growth and green innovation! In 2026, the YGE project will expand our youth community, pilot sustainable initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and tackle challenges together. Here’s to a year full of ideas, action, and positive change!
Turkey
In Turkey, the project team continues to support several youth-led green initiatives despite challenges in recruiting and motivating participants. Three projects are currently in development:
- A lavender-based product line producing oils, sprays, and soaps.
- Eco-friendly T-shirt production with natural dyes and designs inspired by Dalyan.
- An eco-farm and eco-tourism concept focusing on composting, natural fertilization, water treatment, and locally grown food.
Participants receive mentoring and guidance from experts and connect with regional sustainable businesses, such as Gastro Muğla, which combines traditional gastronomy, sustainability, and education. Vocational students from Kahramankazan Efes High School are also developing technical green projects, including ideas like converting fossil-fuel tour boats into electric boats. These concepts will be further refined and presented later in 2026.
Sweden
In Sweden, participants are developing solutions to
1)improve access to student literature and a
2)digital tool for CSRD sustainability reporting for small and medium-sized companies.
The teams are refining their concepts and exploring feasibility. As part of the process, study visits to local entrepreneurs and green businesses are planned to gain insights and inspiration.
Participants are now working on developing their ideas, preparing a pilot phase, and getting ready to pitch to relevant stakeholders to turn concepts into real business opportunities.
Germany
In Germany, preparations are underway for the YGE Challenge launch in mid-March 2026. Young participants will start with a workshop on entrepreneurship and regional green business examples.
They will meet local entrepreneurs and stakeholders, brainstorm ideas, and start developing a business plan and working on the realisation of ideas.
