Social enterprise in schools

The “Social Enterprise in Schools” teacher’s guide was developed with the involvement of the British Council and its partners (e.g. NESsT Hungary, Social Enterprise Academy). Its aim is to introduce students aged 13–18 to the concept of social enterprise and support them in developing their own projects. The program helps students become active and conscious citizens who can identify social problems and design creative, sustainable solutions to address them.

Key Activities and Student Experience

The “Social Enterprise in Schools” program offers a rich and hands-on set of student activities that help learners reflect on real social issues and develop their own solutions.

Key Student Activities:

• Community Mapping: Students take an exploratory walk in the area, capture photos, identify businesses, and create a visual map of their findings.
• Interviews and Research: Engaging in conversations with local entrepreneurs and exploring how social enterprises such as Matyodesign or Ízlelő Restaurant operate.
• Problem Identification and Idea Generation: Creative tasks like the “bad idea into good idea” game foster innovative thinking.
• Project Planning: Students develop their own social enterprise ideas, considering target audiences, social impact, and sustainability.
• Presentation and Reflection: Learners present their projects, receive feedback, and evaluate their learning journey.
• Opportunity for International Collaboration: Includes joint research and experience-sharing with partner schools abroad.

Program Features and Pedagogical Principles

The “Social Enterprise in Schools” program is built on student-centered and experiential learning principles that foster active participation, social awareness, and creative problem-solving.

Core Pedagogical Principles:

• Project-Based Learning: Students identify real-world problems and develop their own solutions through hands-on projects.
• Collaborative Learning: Learners work in teams, share experiences, and reflect together to deepen understanding.
• Experiential Learning: Activities such as interviews, research, and community mapping help students build practical skills.
• Critical Thinking and Reflection: Students evaluate their ideas, give and receive feedback, and learn from mistakes.
• Social Responsibility: The program nurtures sensitivity to community issues and empowers students to create sustainable solutions.
• Student Agency: It builds on learners’ interests, creativity, and initiative, encouraging ownership of their learning journey.
• Global Perspective: Opportunities for collaboration with other schools promote intercultural exchange and broaden horizons.

These principles help students grow not only academically, but also as active, socially engaged citizens.

Methodology and Structure

Program Structure Overview:

1. Community Mapping Students explore their local area, identify businesses and social issues, and document their findings.
2. Understanding Social Enterprises Learners study real-life examples to grasp how social enterprises operate and what impact they create.
3. Idea Generation & Skill Development Through creative exercises, students brainstorm solutions and build entrepreneurial skills.
4. Project Planning Each group develops a social enterprise concept tailored to a specific community need.
5. Implementation Plan Students create a business plan considering target groups, social impact, and sustainability.
6. Presentation & Evaluation Projects are presented, feedback is shared, and students reflect on their learning journey.

Expected Outcomes and Value

The key values of the “Social Enterprise in Schools” program lie in its ability to foster genuine social awareness and empower students to take action. It encourages learners to recognize real social issues in their communities and equips them with the tools to respond thoughtfully and creatively. By blending entrepreneurial thinking with empathy and sustainability, the program helps students become changemakers who don’t just learn about problems—they engage with them and work toward meaningful solutions.