As the Fund Director of the Fund for Youth Employment and the Fund for Regional Cooperation, in the framework of EEA & NORWAY Grants, you have a unique perspective on youth skills development and employment, also considering your experiences in the field. Could you share some success stories or notable achievements from your initiatives that highlight the positive impact of youth workers and mentors on young people’s lives? Why do we need youth workers?
«Thanks a lot for your acknowledgement I am sure, however, I do not have a unique perspective of the matter. it is difficult, nowadays, for all researchers to try to have a complete perspective about youth skills development and employment; while just being myself a practitioner, I can only share my opinion. The EEA & NORWAY Grants’ Regional Funds was established in 2017. The Fund supports cooperation projects focusing on knowledge sharing, exchange of good practices, and capacity building across the priority sectors of the EEA & NORWAY Grants 2014-2021. Out of +1200 submitted Concept Notes, 53 contracts, representing consortia including +430 different entities, have been awarded! Most, if not all of them, are implementing their activities thanks to the support of researchers, youth-workers, mentors etc.: in most cases recruited as volunteers. I think the most important success story I can indicate is that, in 2020, the Fund for Youth Employment achieved its halfway mark. It has been an active and challenging year for the 25 projects that were under implementation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on many of the project activities, especially those targeting the most vulnerable target groups, such as unemployed youth. The 25 projects were forced to adapt their efforts to improve the employment situation of young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs). Project partners have shown great resilience to ensure the continued quality implementation of their projects. By shifting face-to-face activities and training sessions to online formats, they have been able to turn some of the current challenges into opportunities. Youth workers played an important role in helping young people to develop skills and find employment opportunities. They provided guidance, support, and mentorship to help young people navigate the challenges of entering the workforce. By investing in youth workers and mentors, we can contribute to ensure that young people have access to the resources they need to succeed. I strongly believe in it, and it is, one of the reasons, I am also member of few informal groups supporting the recognition in EU of youth workers and mentors.»
Skill development is crucial for empowering the youth and preparing them for the job market. Do the Projects funded by EEA & NORWAY Grants successfully helped in bridging the skills gap we are facing?
«The EEA & NORWAY Grants’ Regional Funds, in particular the Fund for Youth Employment, was established to contribute to sustainable and quality youth employment in Europe. It is a transnational fund that helps entities across Europe pooling their efforts to find new ways of reducing youth unemployment. The €60.6 million Fund for Youth Employment complements the Youth Employment Initiative, which is the main EU funding programme to facilitate the roll-out of the Youth Guarantee – a commitment by all EU Member States to ensure that young people receive good quality offers of employment, continued education, and apprenticeship.
The 25 projects selected in the frame of the “Active Youth” Call and the 8 projects selected in the frame of the “Unlocking Youth Potential” Call, with participants from +25 countries aim to enroll 15,000 (16,808) young people in education or training, support 14,000 (15,086) young people in active job search, create 3,000 jobs in NGOs, social enterprises, and the ordinary labor market, and help 1,800 (2,526) young people start up their own businesses. The data we collected at 31.12.2022 (within parentheses) show that all above targets have already been achieved and exceeded, nevertheless, it is now too early to provide for final data achievements.
The projects focus on innovation and exploration, transfer of know-how and good practices, and analysis and research – including transnational research. These projects have helped to bridge the skills’ gaps by providing young people with access to education, training, and job opportunities. By enrolling young people in education or training programmes, supporting them in their job search, creating jobs in NGOs, social enterprises, and the ordinary labor market, and helping them to start up their own businesses, these projects have helped to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.»
Mentoring and trainings play a significant role in shaping the future of young individuals to create long-term benefits. What are some key qualities or attributes you look for in potential mentors?
«As stated, I am only the Fund Director of the Fund for Youth Employment and the Fund for Regional Cooperation, in the framework of EEA & NORWAY Grants: a practitioner, not a researcher. Nevertheless, I can state that, in my opinion, mentors play a crucial role in shaping the future of young individuals. A great example can be found within the project YES!, particularly on the component implemented and proposed by Autoocupació and Youth Business International (YBI) leaded by the Research Committee of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). A very interesting solution: four different entities implementing initiatives in four different Countries to gather evidences and improve results and social impacts of the model proposed, supported by four research entities steering and monitoring the ensemble of the activities.
Some key qualities or attributes that, generally, I consider important in potential mentors should include:
- Experience and expertise in their field, which allows them to provide valuable guidance and advice to their mentees.
- Good communication skills, including the ability to listen actively, provide constructive feedback, and communicate effectively with their mentees.
- Empathy and understanding, which allows them to relate to their mentees and understand their challenges and concerns.
- Patience and perseverance, as mentoring is a long-term process that requires dedication and commitment from both the mentor and the mentee.
- A positive attitude and a willingness to help their mentees to grow and develop, both personally and professionally.»
Collaboration and regional cooperation are essential for addressing youth employment challenges on a broader scale. Do you believe that the funded Projects fostered collaboration among different regions and stakeholders to maximize the impact of skills development processes?
«Collaboration and regional cooperation are indeed essential for addressing youth employment challenges on a broader scale. The EEA & NORWAY Grants Fund for Youth Employment was established to contribute to sustainable and quality youth employment in Europe through transnational cooperation. It helps entities across Europe to exchange their different knowledge and put together their efforts to find new ways for reducing youth unemployment.
Within these sectors, funds are allocated to initiatives such as inclusive dialogue and the strengthening of transnational/regional networks, knowledge sharing and policy exchange to accelerate innovation, the development of sustainable transnational cooperation structures between the business sector, public sector, civil sector, and academia, and engagements contributing to and enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in policy development and responses to common European challenges. By supporting projects that foster collaboration among different regions and stakeholders, the Fund for Youth Employment has helped maximising the impact of skills development processes. Partnerships are an excellent way to share experiences and know-how.»
As the youth employment landscape continues to evolve rapidly, what emerging trends or technologies do you see influencing the future of youth skills development and employment?
«The youth employment landscape is indeed evolving rapidly, and there are several emerging trends and technologies that are likely to influence the future of youth skills development and employment. Accordingly to the International Labour Organization report: “Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020 – Technology and the future of jobs”, technological change has significant implications for the nature of jobs available to young people. The report discusses shifts in job characteristics, sectors, and skills, as well as examining the impact of technological change on inequalities in youth labor markets. Some of the key trends and technologies that are likely to shape the future of youth skills development and employment include:
- Automation and artificial intelligence, which are changing the nature of work and the skills required to succeed in the workforce.
- The rise of the Gig Economy, which is creating new opportunities for flexible, on-demand work, but also presents challenges in terms of job security and worker protections.
- The growing importance of digital skills, as more and more jobs require proficiency in using digital tools and technologies.
- The need for lifelong learning, as the pace of technological change accelerates and workers need to continually update their skills to remain competitive in the job market.
These are just some of the trends and technologies that are likely to shape the future of youth skills development and employment. It will be important for young people to stay informed about these developments and to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this rapidly changing landscape.»
The Projects funded by EEA & NORWAY Grants, considering the Fund for Youth Employment and Regional Cooperation, have known you for a while now, at the point that you talk about a Family. Which are your best skills as a youth worker, in your experience as Fund Director?
«Yes, it is correct. With the first selected project, it is now almost five years we are working together: with some we met already in 2017, 6 years ago, during Funds Information Day and communication activities launching the Calls. As a matter of fact, it is since the meeting with the awarded projects I am speaking about and referring to a “Family”. At that moment, competition was over, and we started cooperating within the projects (+200 different entities in 2018) and among all of us, clustering similar experiences and activities and discovering how the other part of the Family is doing.
…Starting to exchange information as YOUTHShare project did, together with StayOn and their “don’t be a stranger” https://yeforum.eu/
Without forgetting to mention the project SEPAL and their YE Family events: “Let’s NEET together!.”
Just to mention few of the projects, but, is also necessary to indicate advocacy and lobbying initiatives reaching the creation of new faculties and teaching programmes (Uncorking Rural Heritage and Social Innovators), together with publication of various papers utilised for policy making, participation and membership in networks and working groups. And we should not forget proses: Inclusive Entrepreneurship from YENESIS in 2022, Crystal Wing from Inclusion Through Sports for Children with Developmental Disabilities in 2021.
Best practice by SHOUT from Social Innovators in 2021, CEDEFOP recognition from YOUTHShare in 2021.
I am sure I am forgetting something, and above all somebody, sorry! Certainly, I cannot be silent and I must once more congratulate to all of you, our Family of info/comm within our regional projects as in relation to the first EEA & NORWAY Communication Award 2023!
As far as my skills as youth worker are concerned, via my continuous dedication, support, providing advises up to spur the projects ……. well, if this was contributing to additionally “blow up” the fantastic and incredible capacity of all of us dealing with the projects implementation, well, I am proud to be that youth-worker appointed as Fund Director that you all, in our Family, had to work with in the past 5 years!
……. and, it is now Friday 11/08, almost 16:30 ……….. “The Clash” teaching me, enjoy our EEA & NORWAY Grants Special Mag of 12th August during the EYS2023»
Gian Luca
PS allow me to forward a big thank to you and a big hug to our friend Tom, for this other additional poem he decided to gift us for this special, grazie Tom.
