social entrepreneurship lab Archives

Yes, and… Go! | Training Course

What? Zarika Association is excited to invite you to an immersive Erasmus+ training course: "Yes, and... Go! Entrepreneurial Resilience Through Improv." This project is designed for youth workers, trainers, facilitators, educators, and anyone working with young people who want to explore entrepreneurship in a more practical, creative, and human way. For us, entrepreneurship is not about business creation or financial models. It is a mindset. It is about having the confidence to take initiative, navigate uncertainty, communicate your ideas clearly, collaborate effectively with others, learn from failure, and turn creative ideas into tangible actions. The main methodology of this training is improvisational theater. Through active "learning by doing"—including games, scenes, storytelling, role-play, and group challenges—you will practice active listening, reacting to the unexpected, taking creative risks, accepting…

Open Call for ESC Volunteering: Find YOUR Place, Connect, and Contribute with PIRINvolve in Bansko, Bulgaria!

Are you ready to turn your ideas into action, build real-life skills, and make a meaningful difference? Zarika Association is thrilled to announce the open call for PIRINvolve, a 5-month European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering project. We are looking for four passionate young people to join our team in the beautiful mountain town of Bansko, Bulgaria, from November 3rd, 2026, to April 2nd, 2027 (151 days of project activity + 2 travel days). Before reading further, you can check out the Full PIRINvolve Infopack for a complete overview of the project, accommodation, and activities! About the PIRINvolve Project At Zarika, we believe in a world with less apathy and more empathy. Our mission is to create spaces where young people discover their potential, connect with inspiring peers,…

Collective Leadership Retreat in Bansko: From Individuals to a Living System

On March 21st, Bansko became the setting for something more than a workshop. It became a space where a small group of young social entrepreneurs came together to explore what it truly means to lead together. The Collective Leadership Retreat, organized by Zarika, brought together seven participants—some of them among the winners from the latest edition of Innovation Station, alongside members of the Better Community Club. What they shared was not just ambition, but curiosity: how do we move from individual leadership to collective intelligence? Starting with the Place: Bansko as a Teacher The day began not in a room, but outside—where leadership feels more natural. We walked through the Old Town of Bansko, immersing ourselves in its history, architecture, and atmosphere. The cobblestone streets, traditional houses,…

Innovation Station vol.6: The Prophecy of Grain and Gold

A celebration of youth-driven innovation, collaboration, and social impact For the sixth consecutive year, the Better Community Club at the American University in Bulgaria brought together purpose-driven young people for one of the most inspiring social entrepreneurship events in the country: Innovation Station vol.6: The Prophecy of Grain and Gold. This annual ideathon has become more than just a competition. It is a living ecosystem of collaboration where 12 teams of young innovators work intensively to address 12 real-life challenges provided by NGOs, guided by mentors from civil society and the business sector. Over the course of the event, ideas evolve into actionable solutions—rooted in empathy, creativity, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Where ideas meet real-world impact At its core, Innovation Station is about bridging…

Testimonial | FAME TC in Sweden: Empowering Youth Workers with Financial & Marketing Strategies

In December 2025, youth workers from 11 countries gathered in Kopparberg, Sweden, for the Erasmus+ training course FAME — Unlocking FinAncial and MarkEting Strategies. Held from 10–15 December, the course aimed to engage youth workers in the topic of financial sustainability and marketing strategies, empower them with practical tools to strengthen their NGOs, and create space for meaningful cross-country learning and collaboration. The programme combined theoretical inputs, peer exchange, and hands-on exercises. Participants explored financial planning models, marketing approaches tailored to civil society contexts, and examples of cross-sectoral collaboration that can strengthen community impact. A memorable highlight was the study visit to Folkets Hus in Kopparberg, showcasing how partnerships between public, private, and civic actors can successfully support local development. Voices from Zarika’s participants Two representatives from…

SusTravel: Empowering Sustainable Travel through Innovation

We're excited to share about what we believe will be an exciting collaboration between Zarika and a group of young changemakers. One of them, Nia Kasrelishvili, wrote an article about how it all started, so without further ado - learn how the youth will empower sustainable travel through the SusTravel project. Innovation Station is a yearly social entrepreneurship competition that is organized by the Better Community Club at the American University in Bulgaria. This inspiring event brings together young changemakers, mentors, and experts to find solutions for different social issues. In 2025, it took place from February 28 to March 2 in Blagoevgrad and included twelve teams working on various social problems. The Challenge Among the participants was a passionate team of five Georgian students who received…

Read more about the article Event recap: Social Entrepreneurship as a Way Forward in Increasing Academic Activities through Sustainable Business Models

Event recap: Social Entrepreneurship as a Way Forward in Increasing Academic Activities through Sustainable Business Models

Zarika participated in a capacity-building activity with multiple stakeholders, from university teachers and academics to NGO leaders and students. It was a day of intense discussions and workshops on social entrepreneurship education and its challenges in Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. The activity was organized by Aurora University Network, an alliance building connections between universities from all over the world. Key takeaways from the event Development of social entrepreneurship is an activity requiring engagement from various stakeholders and institutions. Social entrepreneurship requires overcoming far more obstacles than traditional entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship requires a broader skill set and mindset. A most critical skill for the future is navigating the unknown, because change is becoming constant; what we consider most valuable to teach today might be…

Innovation Station vol.5 “New horizons, ancient wisdom”

Innovation Station is a social entrepreneurship competition, organized yearly by the Better Community Club at the American University in Bulgaria. The event brings together young people, mentors from NGOs and businesses, and other changemakers to co-create solutions to social problems. This 2025 Innovation Station, volume 5, was called "New horizons, ancient wisdom" and happened from February 28 to March 2 in Blagoevgrad, calling all Gen Z changemakers (aged 16–25) to propose innovative solutions to today's social challenges. Participants formed teams, worked hard on their solutions, and pitched their ideas to an expert jury from education, business, media, NGOs, social enterprises, and other sectors. Zarika took part in this amazing initiative for the third time in a row, and now we are delighted to share moments and insights…

Ruraland Youth Exchange Recap

In the heart of Tortorella, nestled in the scenic Cilento region, 30 young minds coming from 5 countries across Europe got together for the Ruraland Youth Exchange. Here, amidst cobblestone streets and rolling hills, a vibrant cultural exchange happened. Participants kicked off with ice-breaking activities, sharing expectations and fears while forging bonds through games like "human bingo" and rhythmic dances. They delved into the essence of rural life, painting vivid portraits of their hometowns and immersing in trust-building exercises. Explorations extended beyond the village as participants met with local artisans, marveling at Laura's sculptures and Giovanni's metalwork. They savored the flavors of artisanal beer and danced and singed to the rhythms of folk music. Each day brought new adventures, from scenic hikes through Cilento's mountains to cultural…

Innovation Station vol.4: Ignite the Change

We're very happy that our case study for 2024's Innovation Station: Ignite the change got such an out-of-the box solution! Innovation Station is the platform where young changemakers of ages 16 to 25 come to AUBG for a weekend to solve social problems, identified by a variety of NGOs. Young people are supported by NGO and business mentors on that journey. This is our second year providing one of our needs to the initiative by Better Community Club, and we can say that solutions provided by the participants are always such a nice surprise! Innovative, insightful, unconventional, breaking stereotypes, and disrupting known paths and methodologies. AI, digital tools, customized learning - this is how youngsters solved the problem with procrastination and losing motivation of young people. You…