PROJECT PRESENTATION

EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment

ACTIVE YOUTH CALL FOR PROPOSALS – FULL PROPOSAL

Call no. 2017-1b

Project Index No.: 2017-1-351

Project title: SOCIALNEET_From civil society organizations to social entrepreneurship. Combating youth unemploymentand addressing the needs of NEETs

PROJECT PRESENTATION

Partnership

Lead partner name: Institute of Social Economy Studies (Greece)

•     Development Association of Alto Tamega’s Region– Portugal

•     Janusz Korczak Pedagogical University in Warsaw – Poland

•     University of Primorska– Slovenia

•     Rezekne Academy of Technologies– Latvia

•     Municipality of Mataro– Spain

•     Institute of Industrial and Business Education & Training – Greece

•     Craftsmen Association of Terni – Italy

•     European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES) – Belgium (Expertise partner)
The issue addressed

• The main challenge that the project addresses is the reintegration of young people, which are not in Employment and not in Education or Training (NEETs), into the labor market, through the establishment of social innovative business solutions and the finding of employment in social enterprises by young unemployed people aged between 18-29 and 25-29 years old in particular
• Through the establishment of a transnational network of non-profit organizations and in alignment with the Fund objectives, the project will address the problems of high numbers of NEETs and youth unemployment, the lack of skills and job experience and the lack of incentives and entrepreneurial culture of NEETS in seven European countries.
• In addition, the project will address the need of promoting education, training, coaching and consultation in deprived, unemployed and unmotivated youth and the generation of social capital in the areas concerned.

The Problem

• Despite the progress that has been made in combating youth unemployment and lowering the number of NEETs in many countries of Europe such as Poland, Slovenia and Latvia, the challenge is still evident with an unpredicted dynamic in nature and a need for continuous effort in establishing measures and mechanisms for sustainable results.
• Youth unemployment is outstandingly high in countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal (47,3%, 44,4%, 37,8% and 28%2 respectively for the 15-24 age group in 2016), where NEETs rates for the 25-29 age group were very high at about 33,5% and 32,4% for Greece and Italy respectively (the highest in Europe) and Spain 24,2% during the same year. For the same age group and year in Poland, the NEETs rate was 18, 9% and a little above the E.U.’s average (18,8%), followed by Portugal (17,2%), Latvia (16,1%) and Slovenia (15,7%).

• On the other hand, in the current context of economic recession, Social economy and social entrepreneurship are recognized as factors of social and economic cohesion all over Europe. The development of social economy and social entrepreneurship is estimated that it may absorb a significant part of high unemployment and generate employment opportunities
• All participating organizations’ countries are facing the same challenges in different national, societal and regional settings, where the recent immigration crisis is adding a whole new perspective and magnifying the challenges in the countries of the south.

Objectives

• Establishment social innovative business solutions and the finding of employment in social enterprises by young unemployed people aged between 18-29 and 25-29 years old in particular
• Rise of employability of NEETS from vulnerable groups of society in five main sectors such as Culture and Tourism Industry, Health Care, Agriculture, IT and Open Source Software and Alternative energy sources,
• The enhanced networking and capacity building of social economy and civil society organizations

• The establishment of an expert transnational cooperation network in seven EU countries
• The increase of skills acquisition of former NEETs
• Increased awareness of a large segment of local and transnational populations of the impact and the practical solution that social innovation and entrepreneurship can have in tackling youth unemployment

TARGET GROUPS

• The main target group of the project are young unemployed people between 18-29 years old and particularly between 25-29 years old (1.200)
• The project aims at the active participation of civil society organizations in becoming stakeholders of the project (250)
• The project aim at reaching young disabled people, with substantial difficulty in finding a job and get access to training and education (250)
• The project aims at engaging and involving experienced members of civil society and social economy organizations to become mentors to NEETs (270)
• The project aims at reaching a number of young people beyond the direct beneficiaries of the project through its communication and dissemination activities (5.000)
  

WORK PACKAGES

• WP1: Management
• WP2: Communication
• WP3: Measurement of Local Social Capital and Unused Resources
• WP4: Establishment of NEETs Meeting Points
• WP5: Training and Capacity Building of NEETS
• WP 6: Networking and Transfer of Know-how

INMEKO’s Activities

1. WP1 – Management
   1. Management Activities
   2. Kick-Off Meeting
2. WP2 – Communication
   1. Communication Plan & Visual Identity
   2. Launching Event in Greece (17/04/2019)
   3. Participation in two conferences in Italy (Terni) and in Spain (Mataro)
   4. Project’s Closing Conference
   5. Awareness Activities towards NEETS, civil society organizations, central and local government organizations (25 meetings). Awareness and Information workshops (Targeted actions for information and networking of social capital, Implementation of workshops, which will be attended by the most active members of local social capital, local government officials, Chambers, professional organizations, etc.)
   6. Brochures & Posters
   7. Video for the Presentation of the project’s results
   8. Synopsis of the project’s results
   9. Project’s Website (www.socialneet.eu)
3. WP 3 – Measurement of Local Social Capital and Unused Resources
   1. Methodology for mapping – measurement local /regional social capital and unused resources
   2. Research Tools for the above methodology
   3. Implement the above tools and methodology (measure and create a registry)
4. WP 4 – Establishment of NEETs Meeting Points
   1. Strategic Plan for the development of the NEET’s Meeting Point. Strategic Plan for the development of the NEETs Meeting Point (Design and Implement a selection process for potential social entrepreneurs, Development of a mentors team)
   2. Advisory and consulting services towards NEETS for setting up social enterprises (360 hours). Business & consulting sessions -Consultancy support will be provided for the setting-up phase of Social Enterprises. We will be working on five (5) Exemplary & Innovative Business Plans on the fields of:
   3. Culture and Tourism Industry
   4. Health Care
   5. Agriculture
   6. IT & Open Source Software
   7. Alternative Energy Sources
5. WP 5 – Training and Capacity Building of NEETS
   1. Training courses in Greece (Culture and Tourism Industry, Health Care, Agriculture, IT & Open Source Software, Alternative Energy Sources) – 5 courses /25 persons per course/30 hours per course.
   2. Work based training in civil society organizations – 125 persons/30 hours in civil society organization or social enterprises
6. WP 6 – Networking and Transfer of Know-how
   1. Capacity Building Workshops to Civil Society Organizations targeting social entrepreneurship (25 workshops – 6 hours each) – Combining their activities with social entrepreneurship. Small-scale and targeted education programs/consultancy and capacity building services for social and solidarity organizations. The programs include educational material tailored to the needs of the above mentioned stakeholders and networking.
   2. Courses targeting the experienced members of civil society organizations in order to act as Mentors. Two Mentoring Courses (at least 20 persons per course) – Targeting experienced members of civil society
   3. Formation of a sustainable model for the long term viability of the Meeting Points