(L-R) Gilbert Engel, JEL secretary general; Martine Hansen, Luxembourg's Minister for Consumer Protection; Patrick Wies, president of JEL's board of directors;
Credit: MPC
Luxembourg's Directorate for Consumer Protection has confirmed that two new awards will enrich the 2024 edition of the "Mini-Entreprises" project.
On Friday 2 February 2024, Luxembourg's Minister for Consumer Protection, Martine Hansen, visited the Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg (JEL) asbl. Welcomed by JEL Director Nadia Battello, the president of the board of directors, Patrick Wies, and secretary general Gilbert Engel, the minister reported having had a fruitful exchange with the entire team of the association and members of the JEL Alumni network.
As the Directorate for Consumer Protection recalled, JEL aims to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of young people aged nine to 25 through educational programmes at each level of education. The aim of the minister's recent visit was to sign a collaboration agreement to support one of the JEL's flagship projects: the Mini-Entreprises project. This programme allows students to run a "mini-company" for a year, challenging them to make decisions and take responsibility. At the end of the school year, students can participate in the Mini-Entreprises final, where the most promising projects are rewarded.
Also on the occasion of Minister Hansen's visit, LëtzeBurger, a company created by young people having participated in the Mini-Entreprises project, shared its experience.
For the 2024 edition, two new awards will enrich the Mini-Entreprises project: the "Consumer protection award" and the "Responsible consumption award". These distinctions aim to highlight the importance of the alliance between the entrepreneurial spirit and the defence of consumer rights, as well as the promotion of responsible consumption.
According to the Directorate for Consumer Protection, this initiative marks a significant shift towards the promotion of entrepreneurial education, taking into account both entrepreneurial needs and consumer rights. Focused on transparent information, this collaboration aims in particular to raise awareness among today's youth, who will be tomorrow's professionals, to empower consumers to make informed decisions, while cultivating a responsible entrepreneurial spirit.
Minister Hansen shared her enthusiasm about this collaboration: "Protecting tomorrow's consumers and promoting responsible consumption begins with raising awareness among today's young people."
