Title: Social Entrepreneurship as a Solution for Youth Scope of the problem

Policy Alternatives:

On January 30th, 2019, the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan put in action the Road Map for the Year of Youth in the country. The measures were aimed at providing young people with opportunities to start their career, gain new skills during exchange programs, and foster inter-youth collaboration among youth representatives in neighboring states. Specifically, this program included sections about providing youth with living places, work, opportunities to realize their potential in education and volunteering, as well as engage them in the process of solving local issues, ensuring their overall well-being. The taken steps consisted of grant provision, organizing completions for young people, and providing them with a chance to go for exchange programs abroad.

On January 1st, 2022, a new law on "Social entrepreneurship" was introduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to it, social entrepreneurs were now provided with support from the government - tax incentives and free facilities for establishing their enterprises.

Other introduced measures have attempted to propose the following:

Create a national social entrepreneurship fund: Governments should establish a national fund specifically dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurship ventures by young people. This fund could be used to provide seed funding, mentorship, and technical assistance to social entrepreneurs. By supporting social entrepreneurship, governments can stimulate job creation and address some of the social and environmental issues facing their communities.

Integrate social entrepreneurship into the national curriculum: Schools should introduce social entrepreneurship as a core component of the national curriculum. This would give young people the knowledge and skills they need to start their own ventures, and help them to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. By integrating social entrepreneurship into the curriculum, policymakers can prepare young people for the challenges of the modern workforce and equip them with the skills to create their own jobs.

Encourage corporate social responsibility: Governments can encourage large corporations to engage in social entrepreneurship by providing incentives for companies that invest in young social entrepreneurs. This could include tax breaks, public recognition, or preferential treatment for government contracts. By encouraging corporate social responsibility, governments can leverage the resources of large companies to create positive social and economic outcomes for young people.

Foster collaboration between social entrepreneurs and traditional businesses: Policymakers should encourage collaboration between social entrepreneurs and traditional businesses to create social impact ventures. This could include establishing incubators or accelerators that bring together social entrepreneurs and traditional businesses, or providing incentives for traditional businesses to invest in social impact ventures. By fostering collaboration, governments can create a more dynamic and diverse economy that benefits young people and the broader community.