Youth unemployment rates in Kosovo and the region remain high, particularly amongst women. Despite the fact that university graduation rates are high the youth are not guided towards the labor market demands in accordance with economic development trends. Over the past years we have implemented youth employment programs, which ensured creation of sustainable long term jobs and have provided skills development for hundreds of youth in cooperation with the vocational education centers and the private sector.

In order to provide alternative employment for youth we have become pioneers in Social Entrepreneurship by providing trainings and grants to young social innovators. Our education program in social entrepreneurship it is supported by Portland State University in the US and we maintain working relationship with this institution since October 2016 in order to provide the online academic program to the youth in the Western Balkans. Our partnership portfolio on SE education programs it is expanding in the EU and other countries in the world.

Our work on social innovations and entrepreneurship in the western Balkans it is also supported by the Global Social Enterprise Network (GSEN), where CREATE Foundation is a member. We work closely with government authorities and the private sector to design and implement our programs. Our approach towards entrepreneurship and social innovations it is based on detailed analysis developed by our team and external consultants.

We help to connect new-to-market and existing companies with the resources and partners they need to expand. Our economic development team executes regular business retention and expansion visits to local companies to assist with their operational needs. We listen to the local communities about their economic development needs and assist them to present their requirements to the local and national authorities. Our team is part of the working groups where economic development policies are designed and implemented.

We believe that communities are best agents for change. We working closely with them to establish and maintain community representative groups and provide support and guidance during their work. Over the past ten years our team has implemented various projects to assist the communities and those include Returns & Resettlement Project which successfully resettled 182 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian community families to return to their place of origin in Mitrovica, Kosovo. This was a combined EU & USAID project with a value over 8 Million euros and involved construction of new housing and infrastructure, treatment of children poisoned by lead, educational and social support and reintegration assistance. The success of this project was ensured by partnering with the community from the design phase and during the entire project cycle management. Our field presence across Kosovo, enables us to maintain the relationship with the communities.

At most times our programs are designed in partnership with local and national government authorities to ensure sustainability and provide on the job training for government officials. This ensures the gaining of community trust towards the government. Our experts in good governance have conducted various GAP analysis of more than 10 government institutions and based on findings have designed and implemented capacity building programs. Our open and transparent work has ensured long lasting working relationship with government officials.

Our team is guided by our own manual for good governance during their work with governments.

CREATE Foundation is accredited organization to implement EVS projects in the field of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovations. Those projects provide an excellent opportunity for the youth from Kosovo, the region and the EU to connect, share their experiences and learn from each other.

In order to enhance CBC in the region CREATE Foundation has partnered with various organization in the region to develop and implement cross border cooperation concepts. Albania, Macedonia and Monte Negro are included in the CBC with Kosovo and we have designed concepts which trigger economic development, entrepreneurship and social innovations cooperation.