Launched in 2010, the Social Innovation Relay (SIR) project challenges high school students from 9 countries in a competition of innovative business concepts based on social needs or problems.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The project aims to give high school students access to the practical experience and entrepreneurial expertise needed to start a successful career and facilitates communication with business professionals so that learners:

• gain a better understanding of the concepts of innovation and social entrepreneurship in an interactive and practical way;
• become more aware of local and global social issues;
• develop their teamwork, creative thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

SIR includes the following practical learning components:

• online quiz (gives students the chance to obtain a certificate of knowledge in social innovation);
• webinars (case studies) on social innovation and entrepreneurship;
• social innovation ideas competition and mentoring by experienced professionals.

During the competition, students are given the opportunity to take part in virtual and face-to-face mentoring sessions and to work with experienced professionals. This hands-on experience helps students link theory to the demands of everyday life.

„It was a unique, unforgettable experience, from which I gained new knowledge and discovered skills that I didn't even think I could have. I met people worthy of admiration, from whom I learned a lot. We chose to be part of the solution to society's many problems." – Student team, Dante Alighieri Theoretical High School, Bucharest

„The incubator experience was a very nice one. I found a lot of ideas, learned new things and talked to interesting trainers. From the webinars I learned about financial planning, business planning and how to make a successful presentation, things that will definitely help me in the future. I really enjoyed hearing other participants' ideas. Thank you for this unique experience!" – Student team, Ioan Pascu Theoretical High School, Codlea

Website: http://sir.jaromania.org

NN (www.nn.ro) is the first international life insurance company to enter the Romanian market – in 1997. For 13 years, NN has also been active in the private pension segment, being a leader in these markets. The company's local business also includes investment management. NN has also expanded into the health insurance market and recently into the general insurance market by adding home insurance to its portfolio. NN employs nearly 2,000 staff and financial advisors locally and helps more than 2.2 million insurance and pension customers, a quarter of Romania's working population, protect what matters most to them.

Through its business activity and investments in society, NN aims to create positive change in people's lives, helping them to create the conditions for a better future for themselves and their loved ones. NN identifies solutions that respond to current societal problems and contributes to their implementation whenever it has the opportunity, together with partners in the nonprofit sector. Namely, the company supports important initiatives aimed at creating economic opportunities for youth and disadvantaged families, as well as access to education and healthcare for the most vulnerable among us.