Erasmus Plus Success

The success of a project is passed through the collaboration and synergy¹ that can be established with the territory making it the protagonist.

Of this thesis, "Federico II" Institute of Enna is strongly convinced  for years forcing a series of initiatives that have put students in the forefront, especially thanks to the network that the school has been able to build around.

'Ki sciauru' at international level

The gastronomic excellence created by the classrooms of the Institute "Federico II" of Enna once again at international level. This time it happened in Belgium, where the school was led by headmistress Giuseppina Gugliotta concluded the Erasmus project by presenting its company "Ki sciauru" and in particular the cooking aromatic salts produced within the school. 

We are Founders

When it comes to creativity, innovation, trade and business PORTO is the right spot to visit! So, on April 27 Portuguese Erasmus+ students left Lisbon Oriente train station very early in the morning and got ready for a two day field trip in this amazing city located in Northern Portugal. Students visited Founders Founders – an entrepreneurial community of inspiring companies, biz¹ experts and journalists that work together, learn from each other and share difficulties, challenges and solutions.  

How it all started

As almost everything in entrepreneurship, it all started with a need. The 5 founding startups started their path at UPTEC (Science and Technology Park of University of Porto) and, sooner or later, they would have to leave as part of the natural startup cycle. To avoid leaving each one at a time, and eventually end up spread across the city, they decided to find a way to stay together. Being together, working together, sharing difficulties, challenges or solutions and learning from each other, were some of the things they didn’t want to lose by leaving UPTEC.  Although the companies joining Founders Founders are in different evolution stages², they have all passed the startup phase, they have a solid business validation and are growing.  Their values:  GROW BY LEARNING… from founders with diverse business experiences and life stories; LEARN BY SHARING… challenges, solutions and network³; SHARE BY LIVING… with a like-minded community at your company’s doorstep. 

Founders is not an incubator⁴ nor an accelarator⁵. It’s a community of over 250 people across the globe where each member is eager to grow its business and to grow as an individual. Founders Founders creates an environment that amplifies collaboration, knowledge sharing, problem solving and achievements at a global scale. “We were born from the community to be a community. A community is built from people, not from companies. Everyone is here not only to receive from the community, but also to give back.”

¹biz – business

²stage – phase; position

³network – meeting people who might be useful to know in your job; association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information

⁴incubator – organizations setup to nurture startup companies at an early stage

⁵accelerator – business organizations that offer professional services to help accelerate startups (consulting, management coaching, mentoring, financing)

Adapted from:

http://portugalstartups.com/2016/02/founders-founders/

https://www.founders-founders.com/

School and football, a binomial that can and must be together.

There is something about the Enna Calcio and the "Federico ll" Institute that have started a relationship of sporting and promotional cooperation in the territory as well as exchanging important values.As a first step, the "Federicoll" acquired an Enna company share; Giuseppina Gugliotta and the yellow-green delegate administrator Fabio Montesano welcomed the purchase of the school leader Giuseppina Gugliotta, together with the President Luigi Stompo, General Manager Riccardo Caccamo, the head of the youth sector Maurizio Restivo, the responsable of the women football team, Daniela Basile, and the players Gentile , Di Stefano and the captain Restivo.

The Institute will produce a gadget for both male and female training, the mechanical sector is making a small 3D keyrings while the KI SCIAURU company will produce yellow green salts but wants to go further and it is likely that something will be seen at the Gialloverde party in program Sunday 12 on the return of Enna to "Gaeta" stadium. For "Federico ll" the meeting with Enna was a double celebration because, said the headmistress Giuseppina Gugliotta, “ We are reopening the fifth floor (kitchens) of our school, which is for us one of the strengths of our Institute, a moment we wanted to share with Enna football because” continues the headmaster “ school and sport is a binomial that must walk together”.

For the Ad Montesano “ Today it is an important part of our society with school institution such as Federicoll, but we will continue to collaborate in many initiatives aimed at the promotion of our city “, the Dg Caccamo recognizes the school “ An excellence of our territory “ while President Stompo has said “ Proud to have on our side an important institution like school “

VOCABULARY:

binomial: two words separated by a conjuntion that almost always appear in the same order, term used referring also to two activities that can stay good toghether

share: part of a company that has been divided between several people

recognize: to accept that something is important 

New start

Build a small company

Every beginning  it is difficult for our people to say, but because the beginning is 

the half of everything, it is important that everything that starts is put on the right bases. Especially when you start a new business, you have to start laying a foundation from the start so that your idea will bear fruit¹. Until the dream becomes reality, it takes effort, effort, but above all, will and passion. To convey your ideas, you first have to believe how you will do it and your new start will succeed.When you start something new it is natural not to know where to start. That's why it's best to put things in a row and follow some steps.

Game of Tones at Bödön Handicrafts Market by Endre Nahóczky, Hungary

In Szeged, Hungary, there is a handicrafts ¹market called Bödön (https://bodonpiac.wordpress.com/), which was launched in September 2013. This market provides a great place for farmers, artisans and craftsmen to sell their products. The list of products is continuously growing giving a wide range of choices to the customers. There are foods like home-made cheese, meat products, marmalades, cottage cheese and drinks like homemade syrups or beverages². We can find cookies and cakes, too, which are made of healthy ingredients. In the course of the years, a lot of handmade products appeared too, beside the food and beverages. In this range, we can find bracelets, necklaces and rings made of leather, crystal, rag or plasticine. Apart from design jewellery, customers can choose from beautiful hand-made pottery, kitchen tools, bags, phone cases, clothes and toys, as well.

The market is organized between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. every second Sunday of the month in the “streets” of a shopping mall. As the only requirement from the sellers is to fit the profile of the market and pay a daily fee of 20 euros for their stand, it is a great opportunity for beginner and more experienced small entrepreneurs, too. Apart from this, the initiative is also beneficial ³for the customers who can buy high-quality home-made food along with unique handicrafts.

In September 2016, the Hungarian school company, Game of Tones decided to try their luck in this market and sell their colourable products there, too. In the first market (in September 2016)

they managed to make a nice profit and were happy to have found a regular market with regular customers. “Later in the fall, we did not have enough time, money or products to go to Bödön, so we took a little break. Then, we made new products, like calendars or the world map poster, so we decided to try again. In 2017, we went there 3 times, but the profit was less than before, unfortunately. However, we’ll keep trying till the end of the school year!” says Adriána Aczkov, mentor teacher of the school company.

¹ handicraft - work that needs both skills with the hands and artistic skills

² beverage - any type if drink except water

³ beneficial - having helpful or useful effects

West-Flanders, an enterprising region

We are living in West-Flanders, and known for being hard workers. I was not surprised to read in an article that, besides being a top region for recreation and being a quality region, our province is very enterprising. The provincial government will focus in this spearhead and deepen and capitalise on this winning asset in the further future. This is good news for us, young entrepreneurs…

I am very proud to live in this wonderful province that gives me opportunities in life…

This article was adapted from:

https://www.west-vlaanderen.be/overdegrens/gebiedenbeleid/english/oneprovince/Paginas/enterprisingregion.aspx

Economy

The coastal province is bustling¹ with economic activity. Sectors such as agriculture and fisheries are historically interwoven with the province. But there is also strong industrial presence and trade and distribution are well developed as well.

The industrial recovery of companies in West-Flanders afterWorld War II is enduring². Turnover³ and exports continue to rise. Expansion, automation and environmental investments are guarantees for the future.

                                                                

Unemployment is low and there is a high demand for skilled technicians. At present, there is extensive employment in metallurgy, the textiles and clothing sector, nutrition, chemicals and plastics

Small and medium-sized Enterprises are of great importance for the economic development of West Flanders. This form of entrepreneurship has grown through history. Family owned and operated companies with West Flemish roots still form the cradle^⁴ of regional growth. They are the engine of West Flanders. Not only are they an important source of employment, but they also underlie the quality of life and wellbeing of the region. West Flanders moreover enjoys a favourable investment climate for companies large and small. So, the future remains secure.

The Flemish Coast, Bruges and Westhoek are the traditional magnets of West Flanders. Tourism is one of the most important mainstays of the West Flemish economy. The sector keeps registering continuous growth. Furthermore, tourism is expanding ever further over the entire region. Flemings and the international public alike find a full range of days and accommodation tourism in West Flanders. Many tourists come from neighbouring countries, but also from elsewhere in Europe, America and Japan.

                                  

Visit the website "invest in west-flanders"

 Agriculture, horticulture⁵ and fishing

West Flanders is the most agricultural province in Flanders, with the family embedded mixed concerns and land crops ⁶. Livestock⁷ breeding, agriculture and horticulture supply quality Foods and constitute an important pillar of the countryside in Flanders.

The supply of raw materials and processing of agricultural produce led to a sound⁸ industry and a source of growing indirectly employment. West Flanders has acquired a unique position at world level on this front.

 Fishing is an industry typical of West Flanders. The total value of the fish that Belgian vehicles bring into harbours such as Zeebrugge, Ostend and Nieuwpoort exceeds 81 million euros. Specialised personnel are increasingly called upon for the high-tech fishing vessels⁹.

Education

When it comes to education, Flanders is said to have one of the best education systems in the whole world. There are no universities in West-Flanders. However, the province does have three university-colleges (HOWEST, KATHO, KHBO), as well as the KULAK - the bachelor campus of K.U. Leuven (Catholic University of Louvain) in Kortrijk. In addition, some of the schools in West Flanders offer a few unique, sector-oriented training programmes, such as maritime techniques in Ostend and textile production techniques in Waregem.

1 bustling - full with

2 enduring - continuing, lasting

3 the turnover - the amount of business done in a given time

4 the cradle- the origin

5 the horticulture - the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants

6 land crops - the amount of cultivated plants, vegetables, fruit… in any particular season

7 livestock - domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fibre, and labour

8 sound - healthy

9 a vessel - a passenger or freight-carrying ship or boat