ENGIM Albania is actively engaged in promoting social entrepreneurship as a pathway for youth empowerment and sustainable development. Through our initiatives, we support young people in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to create and manage their own social enterprises. Building on experiences from projects such as RISE ALB, Spreading Social Enterprises, and Promoting the Employment Inclusion and Self-Employment of Young Albanians in the Fier Region, ENGIM Albania continues to strengthen its role in fostering inclusive economic opportunities and encouraging young people to become proactive agents of change in their communities.

“Spreading Social Enterprise: training, work and inclusion” (2022-2024) funded by the European Union, was a project implemented by ENGIM in Albania, together with Qendra Sociale Murialdo, HELP-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, and LIBERA. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie. The project aimed to support sustainable and inclusive development by strengthening vocational social enterprise models, improving the managerial capacities of local civil society organisations, and creating pathways for training and work inclusion through three social enterprises: KeBuono Social Pastry, AutoService Murialdo, and Shporta Myzeqare. During the project, three Social Business Models were developed and shared, around 40 local CSOs took part in roundtables and capacity-building activities, and the three social enterprises were further reinforced as spaces for training and work inclusion. In total, 130 participants attended vocational courses, 29 scholarships were awarded, and 14 internships were activated, helping vulnerable young people and adults gain practical experience and improve their employability.

RISE-ALB (2019 -2022) funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is a project coordinated by ENGIM and developed within the CHANCE line, in continuity with CHANCE’s Political Agenda against organised crime and corruption introduced on 3 April 2019. Libera joined the project as a partner, contributing to the promotion and exchange of effective practices on the public and social use of confiscated goods. The project supports civil society organisations and local actors in turning social ideas into sustainable initiatives that generate inclusion, work, and development in the territory.

Through institutional dialogue and capacity-building activities, the project helped strengthen the framework for social enterprises in the country while also creating concrete opportunities on the ground. It supported the establishment of KeBuono, a social pastry shop in Fier, and two business incubators dedicated to local products and medicinal herbs, while also contributing to the economic activation of 16 disadvantaged people and the training of dozens of young people and women through scholarships and equipment support.

Another key component was the sub-granting programme, which financed seven initiatives led by Albanian civil society organisations for a total value of nearly €300,000. At the same time, the project involved more than 260 students in educational activities on legality and helped build stronger links between the non-profit sector and private enterprises, creating a more connected and sustainable local ecosystem.

Promoting the employment inclusion and self-employment of young Albanians in the Fier region

“Favorire l’inserimento lavorativo e l’auto-imprenditorialità dei giovani albanesi nella regione di Fier” (2024-2025) funded by Fondazione Intesa San Paolo, was a project promoted by ENGIM together with local schools, institutions, businesses, and community actors in Fier. Its goal was to help young people build stronger paths toward employment and entrepreneurship by connecting education, skills development, and real opportunities in the local labour market. The project focused on two complementary areas: improving employability through life-skills training, orientation, and direct contact with companies, and supporting entrepreneurship through training, mentoring, and start-up opportunities. In this framework, ENGIM collaborated closely with the Rakip Kryeziu Vocational School, the Qendra Sociale Murialdo, local labour and social offices, and a network of businesses and stakeholders committed to youth inclusion

The initiative generated concrete results throughout its activities. 20 life-skills sessions involved 170 students, helping them strengthen communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and job-search skills, while 16 entrepreneurship sessions engaged 33 young people in developing business ideas and business plans. As a result, 12 business ideas were submitted to the start-up competition and 6 young entrepreneurs received micro-grants to launch or reinforce their activities. The project also activated 5 work-experience placements for disadvantaged participants and organised several educational visits, offering students direct exposure to workplaces, vocational institutions, and local businesses.