Last week, year 2 students who are working with the social entrepreneurship project, “Think Global, Act Local” participated in a “Disaster Dinner” at the Young Innovation Hub at Södermalm in Stockholm.
The idea with Disaster Dinner is to let the participants tell about their project and the 
mistakes they have made in an honest and real way. Sissa Pagels, Director of the YIH, believes that this is more important in the life of a social entrepreneur than the many fancy dinners and mingle parties. Yet after many attempts, yesterday’s Disaster Dinner with our students was the first one she had actually attended – except for the first one, 
where no one else came. The other dinner she organized was attended by the Swedish Prince and his girlfriend. The event was so popular that she, herself, did not have a place. She did give a speech and sharing her own mistake – attending a royal dinner with the clothes alarm still on her skirt …
Afterwards, students listened to Denny tell about his story, very familiar to our students. He was an excellent student – earning top grades, admission to Handelshögskolan, worked part-time at a bank and, at the same time, started his own company working many hours every day. One day on the way home from work, he began to have chest pains. 
This scared him and made him wonder what was he doing and where was he headed. He never saw his friends, he didn’t write any poetry which he loved, he didn’t see films and felt very unhappy. Everything he was doing was for his CV. He had left his “now” life for his “future” life.
Denny’s speech required our students to think about their own mistakes, successes, goals, and what makes them happy. Many students discussed how they wanted to “change the world/make a difference” as well as succeed in school and the workplace.
It was an interesting night with a valuable exchange of experiences – and, full of inspiration.
This was the goal of the cooperation for Young Innovation Hub to provide VRG students with motivation, tools, courage and a real-life connection. The YIH has provided inspirational speakers as a kick-off, one-on-one coaching, and the Disaster Dinner.
For more info about the Young Innovation Hub, click here>>
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