Since 2013, Stéphanie Damgé is director of the non-profit organization Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg. The association aims to develop the entrepreneurial potential of young people by interconnecting the worlds of education and business.
“Our mission is to inspire and prepare young people to innovate, create, take initiatives and be responsible. It’s about equipping them with the entrepreneurial skills they need to succeed tomorrow and build their and our future,” says Stéphanie.
Please introduce us to Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl?
Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg asbl is an association offering entrepreneurial education programs for young people between 9 and 30 years old. Our objective is to develop the entrepreneurial spirit of young people to better prepare them for the future. To achieve this, we apply the “learning by doing” method, i.e. practical and interactive experiences with volunteers from the professional world.
More than 13,000 young people participate annually in our programs and are supported by over 450 volunteers. We also rely on the support of the entire school community, from teachers and principals to guidance counsellors who talk to their students about our programs.
13,000 young people and 450 volunteers are quite impressive numbers! How do you explain this enthusiasm for your programs?
We can no longer teach the way we used to, as it would not be in line with today’s world. Everything is moving very fast and the new generations are increasingly faced with new challenges and are asking a lot of questions about their future. I think that some of the answers to these questions can be found by young people participating in our programs.
I am convinced that our programs give them unique experiences and that being in contact with the professional world makes them grow up faster and allows them to make better decisions about their future. We want to convey to young people that they are the actors of their own future and that they should not be afraid to dream and dare to undertake.
“We have 12 programs across the different levels of education, basic, secondary and higher education, from 9 to 30 years old.”
Stéphanie Damgé
On the other hand, companies and managers must also take their responsibilities and take part in the education and orientation of young people. Today, many sectors are looking for young talents. Whether it is as an intrapreneur or as a business owner or even as a business creator.
If we want to motivate young people to be passionate about the professions, it is important that companies open their doors to them and let them discover their environment. It is necessary to create bridges between these two worlds and our association is there to create these links.
If tomorrow you wanted to become a volunteer, what steps would you need to take?
We have 12 programs across the different levels of education, basic, secondary and higher education, from 9 to 30 years old.
All our programs can be found on our website www.jel.lu and you can contact us via [email protected]. If there is a program that interests you, the easiest way is to contact us directly. All of our volunteers are trained and have training materials that we make available and that they can draw on.
The nature of our programs can also vary. Some are classroom-based, some are coaching-based, and some are trainer-based in a specific area. I would say that if you want to share your knowledge, your experience but also your failures and learnings, you will surely find a program that will allow you to do so. And I can guarantee you that you will also learn from these young people and that you will live a human experience.
Editor’s note: Mrs Stéphanie Damgé will be our guest at the next Startup Apéro. Register online here.
