We’re proud to introduce the European Fellowship on Social Entrepreneurship (EFSE)—a transformative program supporting young women from Romania to develop innovative solutions for their communities. Launched within the framework of SPARK – Supportive Program for Advancing Rural Knowledge, the EFSE Fellowship is designed to equip emerging social entrepreneurs with mentorship, resources, and visibility as they tackle key challenges facing rural and under-resourced communities.
Through this fellowship, participants receive tailored support to turn their ideas into impactful, community-driven projects—using tools like design thinking, social innovation, and entrepreneurship education.
Why EFSE?
Young people, especially women in rural Romania, face unequal access to opportunities for personal and professional growth. Educational disparities, limited job prospects, and lack of platforms to develop ideas into action are persistent barriers.
EFSE was created to bridge that gap. By offering structured guidance, 1-on-1 mentorship, peer learning, and promotional support, the fellowship empowers young women to:
- Identify and respond to unmet needs in their communities
- Develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills
- Build projects that foster inclusion, well-being, and sustainable development
- Gain visibility and inspire others through their stories
EFSE is more than a programme—it’s a community of changemakers dedicated to shaping a better, more inclusive Romania from the ground up which started in 2016 (First edition).
Meet the EFSE Fellows
The second generation of EFSE Fellows are already making waves with their bold ideas:
- Maria (Râșnov - Brașov county, Bucharest) is tackling Romania’s high teen pregnancy and infertility rates through Bloomplate, a social enterprise offering personalized nutritional plans for young mothers and women struggling with fertility.
- Laura (Galați county, Bucharest) is building a space for young people aged 14–25 to learn about civic rights, develop life skills, and co-create youth-friendly communities—bridging the urban-rural opportunity
- Catalina (Teleorman County, Bucharest) dreams of a mobile STEAM lab to deliver hands-on science workshops to rural schools, giving students access to the experiments and practical learning missing from their classrooms.
- Andreea (Brașov county) is helping small businesses grow online with an innovative blend of affordable marketing services and AI-generated virtual influencers that promote brands creatively and cost-effectively.
Each fellow’s journey is unique, but they share a common goal: to create solutions by and for their communities, addressing real needs with entrepreneurial spirit.
How the Fellowship works
EFSE provides fellows with:
- 1-on-1 mentorship with experienced social entrepreneurs and trainers
- Access to tailored resources and learning tools
- Visibility and promotion through national and international networks
- A collaborative platform for sharing challenges, ideas, and progress
Fellows also participate in hands-on trainings, including a project incubation lab in Bucharest, where they refine their ideas, receive feedback, and plan their implementation. By the end of the fellowship, each participant will have developed a viable project that addresses a concrete need in their community—and the skills to sustain and grow it.
Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and success stories from the EFSE Fellows as they bring their ideas to life.