ESF-SI-2023-SKILLS-01-0104

The SkillSphere project aims to address unemployment and skill development among 180 vulnerable NEETs aged 18-29 in Romania, Italy, and Bulgaria. The overarching objective is to increase their employability by providing comprehensive support and training opportunities. So, we want to develop and implement the innovative socio-professional insertion methodology of AFF aimed at addressing the employment challenges faced by vulnerable NEETs, ensuring its adoption and delivering measurable outcomes in terms of increased efficiency of the insertion process and improved well-being of the beneficiaries in all 3 countries during 24 months.

Specific objectives:
1.Promoting the project among NEETs and enrolling 180 NEETs aged 18-29 from 3 countries for participation in training courses, 5 months. 
2.Delivering training courses, career counselling mentoring courses for 180 NEET youths(60 in each country), 6 months.
3.Developing and maintaining online platforms to connect NEETs, enabling peer-to-peer learning, motivation and support for sustainable engagement beyond the project’s duration.
4.Creating 4 roundtable discussions and mentorship sessions between representatives from social enterprises and employers in each country to facilitate networking and career guidance opportunities, 3 months.
5.Facilitating 4 coaching sessions for social enterprises and employers aimed at enhancing their capacity to effectively engage with and support NEET youths, 4 months.
6.Securing internship placements in various domains for 90 NEET youths(30 in each country), 3 months.

These objectives are supported by all the activities, informational and promotional campaigns, training courses in digital skills, financial education, English language, mentorship and legal skills. Our project involves creating online platforms for peer-to-peer learning, organizing roundtable discussions between NEETs and social enterprises, providing internships in selected domains, offering coaching sessions for social enterprises and employers. 

Expected results:

• Completed 90 internships with 90 % receiving positive feedback. 
• Strengthened social connections among NEETs, alongside improved self-confidence and increased motivation for lifelong learning. 
• Enhanced mutual understanding between social enterprises and employers; strengthened networks linking NEETs with potential employers; and improved recognition of the value NEETs can bring to the workforce. 

Funding: 615,253.00 Eur

Social innovation scale-up

The SkillSphere project represents a scaled-up social innovation by enhancing and expanding the existing socio-professional insertion model developed by Ateliere Fără Frontiere (AFF). Building upon AFF’s established approach, the project introduces two key innovations: Career guidance training prior to entering the labor market, and a preparatory internship pathway, where applicable. These innovations aim to strengthen the model’s capacity to equip vulnerable NEETs with essential professional and digital skills, while also providing tailored support for both beneficiaries and employers.