GEW continues to expand each year not only by recruiting more countries but also by engaging more people. A number of GEW campaigns already have participant numbers in the six figures, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Mexico, Russia, Ecuador, France and Algeria. As the movement continues to grow, more countries will increase their engagement levels to reach over millions of participants, as Brazil has done in the past. Ambitious participation numbers require ambitious campaigns and events. One of the most important factors in reaching out and making a difference to society at large is coming up with campaign themes and events that are relevant and inclusive.
Algeria
NAPEO Algeria, the official GEW host organization in Algeria has been running successful GEW campaigns for the past four years. In fact, during last year’s GEC in Moscow, they were nominated for the Country of the Year Award, an award that recognizes the best overall Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign, along with Mexico, Qatar, Germany and the United Kingdom, the latter of which took home the prize.
This year’s GEW campaign aims to promote the Algerian entrepreneurial ecosystem as a whole. It will take place across 48 provinces targeting 400,000 participants, doubling the figure from last year. The launch of the new GEW campaign has been covered extensively in the national press. For a whole week, lectures, workshops, exhibitions and competitions to encourage and empower startups will be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Mines. The main objective of the campaign is to introduce young people to entrepreneurship and equip them with the right set of skills and the mindset to create their own business. Underlying themes of this year’s GEW campaign include:
- Cleantech,
- Social entrepreneurship, and
- Entrepreneurial ecosystem and its impact on growth.
Activities targeting young people and students will include meetings on entrepreneurship and a workshop called "Becoming an entrepreneur in 10 days."
Activities aimed at high school and college students focus on competitions including the “Champion in business” competition. There is something for everyone including trainers, such as special training classes for project managers to teach them entrepreneurial skills. Startup Weekend, as in many other countries, will be the heart of the campaign. For 54 hours, candidates will brainstorm to design prototypes, prepare business models, and eventually present ideas to the experts. Coaches will also be present to mentor the candidates. At the end of the weekend, the candidates will have five minutes to pitch the jury.
Although the regulatory framework in Algeria remains as one of the obstacles to a favourable entrepreneurial ecosystem, GEW Algeria is hopeful that the week will nonetheless raise awareness of this issue and will remain dedicated to encouraging and inspiring young Algerians to create their own businesses to contribute towards the country’s prosperity.
Belarus
The Center for Business Communications (BELBIZ), the official GEW host organization in Belarus, is behind the Leaders of Today themed GEW campaign for Belarus. BELBIZ has assembled an impressive agenda and international speakers for their flagship GEW event, IV International Entrepreneurship Forum, which will take place November 18. The Chairman of the Bank of Belarus, representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and international organizations and business leaders will come together to discuss the issues of access to finance for small and medium sized businesses in Belarus.
Also invited to participate in GEW Belarus are the Ministers of Economic development of several countries from the region including Poland, Czech, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Estonia.
Another promising event to look out for during GEW Belarus is the Bel.Biz Battle, an event where the best startups from across Eastern Europe will compete.
Costa Rica
Yo Emprendedor, the official GEW host organization in Costa Rica knows how to tap into the power of storytelling to inspire nascent entrepreneurs. As part of their GEW campaign, they have created a series of GEW Storytellers events, successfully combining music, storytelling and entrepreneurial passion. The event series that began last year features social, commercial and cultural entrepreneurs sharing their stories. This year’s featured storytellers include:
- A medal-winning physically challenged athlete,
- A social entrepreneur promoting community integration in city-life, and
- A young couple that's developed a successful local food franchise.
Yo Emprededor would be happy to share more information with any other country who would like find out how to replicate this successful GEW event. (farce@yoemprendedor.net)
Saudi Arabia
Qotuf, the official GEW host organization in Saudi Arabia, has launched an ambitious campaign for GEW that promotes entrepreneurship as a lifestyle. The campaign is called Entreprenation (which stands for Entrepreneurship and Nation). The campaign recognizes that not everyone will become an entrepreneur, yet anyone can learn entrepreneurial skills that will help them be better students, employees and citizens. All that is required is to be willing to learn and improve, to take action either as an individual, organization or the society as a whole. The campaign aims to fully engage and immerse the Saudi community in entrepreneurship.
GEW Saudi Arabia is now celebrated in all corners of the country. In fact, Tuba Terekli, cofounder of Qotuf, expects GEW participation to reach 1 million citizens in 2016.
Entreprenation as the main event of GEW will focus on seven pillars and will inform the audience how they can benefit from entrepreneurial skills and mindset on each level.
- The Country- How to make Saudi Arabia a more entrepreneurial country at the macro level
- The Government- Ways in which the government can support entrepreneurship and act as an entrepreneur
- The Society- Towards becoming a more entrepreneurial society, for example exploring social entrepreneurship
- Corporate- Creating a more entrepreneurial culture in corporations including introducing “Corporate Entrepreneurship Responsibility”
- Schools and Universities- Modifying the educational system to generate a future entrepreneurs, through programs such as Injaz and Makkah Accelerator
- Family- How to raise entrepreneurial children
- Individual – How to live an entrepreneurial life style, and how to start a business
In addition to this flagship event, the agenda for GEW is full of exciting events and activities, including the launch of two of GEW’s global picks: Creative Business Cup and Get in The Ring.
Switzerland
GEW Geneva is hosted this year by a coalition of Geneva-based partners composed of UNCTAD, WIPO, the University of Geneva, the Geneva Economic Development Office, the Confederation of Industries of the French part of Switzerland, the Board of Higher Education, and the SME support agency along with a long list of local partners. This year’s campaign is called “Unleash Your Ideas” and presents a large number of events covering a wide range of entrepreneurship related topics.