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Introducing Cultural BEES: Empowering Youth in the Cultural and Creative Industries

JA Europe is proud to present Cultural BEES, a new project funded by the EU Creative Europe Programme aimed at fostering entrepreneurship skills among youth in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), launched today in Larnaka during the official kick-off meeting.

Developed by a consortium of 11 partners across 6 EU countries, led by JA Europe as project coordinator, Cultural BEES project’s core objective is to equip young people aged 15-30 years with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools to excel in their careers within the Cultural and Creative Industries. Drawing inspiration from the proven "Inspire-Prepare-Succeed" model by Junior Achievement, Cultural BEES will offer a comprehensive training programme and digital toolkit designed to support the development of ideas, projects, and businesses within the CCI sector. UNESCO Cyprus is associated partner of the project.

Through a blend of face-to-face training sessions, self-paced online learning, and virtual communities, Cultural BEES will empower participants to create sustainable, inclusive, and innovative projects. The project will also conduct large-scale piloting of its methodology, with 1000 students across secondary and tertiary education levels in Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Italy benefiting from the programme.

Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe commented on the project's potential impact: "Cultural BEES represents a unique opportunity to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit among young people and unleash their creativity in the Cultural and Creative Industries. By providing access to tailored training and resources, we aim to cultivate a new generation of innovators and changemakers who will shape the future of Europe."

Speaking at the kick-off meeting, Diana Filip, Deputy CEO and Chief Development Officer of JA Europe said: “JA Europe is thrilled to embark on this new project which is connecting the next generation of Europeans to our Cultural and Creative Industries. The Cultural BEES consortium comprises talent and expertise from universities, social enterprises, strategic design hubs, associations of municipalities, and SMEs, each bringing complementary skills and knowledge to the project. At its core, the "Cultural BEES" project represents a remarkable partnership between UNESCO Cyprus and JA Cyprus, united by a shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurship skills within the Cultural and Creative Industries sector.”

For more information about Cultural BEES and to stay updated on the project's progress, visit www.jaeurope.org and follow us on social media.

About JA Europe

JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network provided 6 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats.

Press and media contact at JA Europe: Minna Melleri, Chief of Advocacy and Growth minna@jaeurope.org