Successful business networking between Portugese host and Romanian new entrepreneur!

New Entrepreneur Andrei Sasu (left) and Host Entrepreneur Carlos Ferreira (right).

New entrepreneur:
Andrei Sasu (Romania)
Age: 28
Company name: COSI - Civic Orientation and Social Integration | www.cosiromania.com (Start-up)
Sector of activity: Advertising,Promotion, Media

"I strongly wished to partake in "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” as it represents an amazing opportunity for the development of my business. Thanks to this experience, I gained strong knowledge and skills writing and implementing EU Projects,Human Resources management as strengthened my professional network.”

Host entrepreneur: 
Carlos Ferreira (Portugal)
Age: 37
Company name: Geoclube - Associação Juvenil | www.geoclube.eu (20 years of experience)
Sector of activity: Advertising,Promotion, Media 

"The best about Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is the new ideas you get from a new entrepreneur who has the knowledge in the area you are lacking, has enthusiasm and energy and this brings invaluable insights into your business.”

Period of exchange: 07/2018 until 01/2019
Duration of exchange: 6 months

Andrei Sasu from Romania founded Civic Orientation and Social Integration (COSI) in 2014. He created this NGO to promote social inclusion of children young people and adults with limited opportunities or special needs.rnrnTwo years later Andrei applied for Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in the hope to fill his knowledge gaps in managing EU projects Human Resources and financial management of an NGO.

He flew to Portugal in July 2017 where he joined Carlos Ferreira the president of Geoclube - Associação Juvenil an NGO founded in 2000. rnrnDuring the six-month stay abroad the two entrepreneurs worked together on several initiatives notably on the ‘Erasmus+’ programme design and implementation especially towards youth mobilities in Europe and in the neighboring countries as well as discussed marketing strategies online and offline. 

Thanks to this exchange, Andrei had the opportunity to improve his organizational skills as together with the Geoclube’s team, he organised events and workshops in Gondomar where they promoted the Erasmus+ programme with a focus special on Volunteering opportunities for young people notably theEuropean Voluntary Service (EVS) and raised awareness about the cultural differences and other development opportunities in the EU.

The exchange objectives were divided in two categories; firstly, towards the personal and professional gain for Andrei, in terms of writing/implementation skills of Erasmus+ programmes (application forms) and non-formal facilitation experience gain and secondly, towards the development of a financial sustainable long-term plan for COSI and Human Resources strategy.

The October Erasmus+ deadline was the highest focus of the collaboration, whereas they jointly managed to apply with two Mobilities of Youth Workers (Geoclube) and two Mobilities of Youth Workers and one Youth Exchange (COSI). Moreover, throughout the non-formal workshops and events jointly implemented, Andrei gained important competences in both areas: project writing and non-formal education facilitation.

One of the other focus of the collaboration, was the development of a financial plan and a Human Resources strategy; time will show (2017-2020) if they will be sustainable. Andrei managed to acquire invaluable knowledge in these areas by working closely with Carlos.