Is there anything better than a training program organised by a project?
Yes. A training program organised by two projects!
The YOUTHShare project, after the conclusion of its research part and the subsequent analysis of the NEETs profile in the Mediterranean EEA countries, Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain, has designed a training program, custom made to cover the needs of young persons Not in Employment, Education or Training. With particular emphasis upon the resilient sectors of the Mediterranean economies, the social, circular and sharing economies as well as the web-based niche markets, the training program has started in early October 2020. Women and Migrant NEETs at the age group of 25 to 29 years old, are currently acquiring new knowledge and at the same time upgrading their soft skills in the labour market.
The Blue Generation project aims at inspiring young people to pursue sustainable careers in blue economy sectors such as coastal tourism, aquaculture, ocean energy, marine biotechnology, shipbuilding, maritime transport and fisheries. By offering well-documented information and mentoring programs about pertinent prospects in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Poland, the project brings together experts from the blue economy and youth organisations to share knowledge about skills needs, career paths, open job positions and existing training with young people who are NEETs or at risk of becoming NEETs.
After an invitation by the Blue Generation project, the two projects joined forces! The training program of YOUTHShare welcomed the Blue Generation in an in-depth and informative presentation of the blue economy careers in Greece and elsewhere. During two days, 18 and 19 November 2020, Ms Marianna Terzidaki and Ms Marievi Gretsi supported the NEETs attending the YOUTHShare training program in discerning notions and terminology, explained to them the impact and the opportunities in sustainable blue careers and presented the mentoring services of the Blue Generation project.
Those two days were much more than sharing a training platform or just a pool of NEETs. It was also more than a collaboration between two projects funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment. It was about the creation of value-added through the connection of resilient sectors in the Mediterranean area with the traditional, yet up and coming, blue economy in the same region. It was about sharing the common concern of our projects regarding the labour market integration of the young NEETs. Most of all, it was about sharing our projects’ passion in offering real solutions to real problems. It is that solidarity spirit that finally reinforces resilience in our societies.
