Curaçao: in an unprecedented week of collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange, the Caribbean island of Curaçao became the epicentre of youth entrepreneurship and transnational learning. Under the Erasmus+ framework “Empowering Leaders through Entrepreneurship Ventures and Training for Education,” seven partner organisations from across Europe and beyond gathered to transform vision into action and ideas into institutions.
Participants from Migrafrica gGmbH (Germany), MDC e.V., Rhythmbridge e.V., Virtual Vista Curaçao, Bee the Future (Cyprus), United Youth (North Macedonia) and Bilim Dil Kültür Derneği (Turkey) joined forces to explore the future of youth leadership and entrepreneurship education. Over seven days, the delegation blended strategic learning, innovation through artificial intelligence, and a deep cultural immersion into Curaçao’s history.
The programme unfolded with precision and purpose. Each morning began with icebreakers, teambuilding, and reflective discussions designed to foster trust and intercultural dialogue. Sessions such as “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs,” “Coaching and Mentoring,” and “Social Business Plan and Canvas” enabled participants to translate abstract ideas into tangible business models. Guided by experienced facilitators, each national team developed the blueprint for a future organisation or social enterprise to be founded in their home country all underpinned by sustainable business logic and community impact.
Technology played a defining role. In an advanced workshop titled “Use of AI for Youth and Social Work,” participants learned how to design prompts and integrate artificial intelligence into entrepreneurship training. Through the creation of a Mega Prompt, teams developed complete business plans for their emerging organisations marking one of the project’s most forward-thinking achievements.
Cultural awareness was equally central. A visit to a local museum offered a sobering insight into the history of the transatlantic slave trade and Curaçao’s colonial legacy reminding all present that entrepreneurship and empowerment cannot exist without historical consciousness and social justice. Evenings were dedicated to Cultural Nights, where food, dance, and storytelling built bridges between continents and generations.
Networking reached a highlight when the delegation attended an event hosted by the One Caribbean Business Network (OCBN), engaging with more than 20 local entrepreneurs. The encounter cemented transatlantic cooperation, paving the way for future partnerships and the envisioned Community Business Center that will unite emerging leaders from across the region.
By the final day, enthusiasm had turned into tangible commitment. The participating youth and organisations declared their intent to formalise collaborations, mobilise new members, and co-create a business and learning hub in Curaçao a living symbol of unity through entrepreneurship.
The implementation was hailed as a full success: all planned activities from the project application were executed with precision, and participants left inspired, equipped, and ready to lead. In the words of one attendee:
“We didn’t just learn how to build organisations we learned how to build a movement.”
Curaçao now stands as proof that when Europe’s youth connect across borders, they can turn challenges into opportunity and vision into sustainable change
