WILLEMSTAD, TRIESTE – Entrepreneurship, innovation and international cooperation took center stage during the recent international meeting of the EmpowHER project in Trieste, Italy. The EU Desk Curaçao of the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) and Fundashon SEFBA participated alongside European partners to develop new educational tools that support women entrepreneurs and youth organizations.
The meeting was led by the Italian organization MIMMA Dreams, which serves as the lead partner coordinating the project. Through this Erasmus+ initiative, organizations from Italy, Spain, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo and Curaçao are working together to strengthen women's entrepreneurship through practical learning, innovation and international knowledge exchange.
The Curaçao delegation consisted of Margit de Freitas, Project Manager of the EU Desk Curaçao, and Arminda Elisabeth, Director of Fundashon SEFBA.
As part of the project, Curaçao will continue developing two entrepreneurship training modules: "From Idea to Action: Social Canvas and Other Practical Tools" and "Funding and Sustainability of Social Businesses."
These hands-on training courses will provide women, youth workers and civil society organizations with the knowledge and practical tools needed to transform entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable initiatives. In addition, Curaçao will host international webinars during which expertise will be shared with participants from all partner countries.
The collaboration between the EU Desk Curaçao and Fundashon SEFBA demonstrates how government institutions and civil society organizations can work together to create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and capacity building. Through its participation in Erasmus+, Curaçao is strengthening its ties with European knowledge networks while creating tangible benefits for local entrepreneurs and organizations.
For the Ministry of Economic Development, participation in European programs such as Erasmus+ directly supports broader policy objectives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, skills development and international cooperation. Through the EU Desk, Curaçao continues to expand access to European funding opportunities and strategic partnerships in support of sustainable economic growth.
Upon completion of the project in 2027, all training materials, online courses and practical toolkits will be made available free of charge through a digital learning platform. This will allow entrepreneurs, educational institutions and organizations in both Curaçao and Europe to benefit from the project's results.
The EmpowHER project is co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme and is coordinated by MIMMA Dreams of Italy.