A lot of long-term unemployed people are formed by women without proper education, living in the countryside. We have almost the same problem in Slovenia, Hungary and Italy. Utilization of farming as a tool for work training and social inclusion of disadvantaged people has increased recently especially in Italy, but also in Slovenia and Hungary. This approach currently appears as alternative to traditional working inclusion for disadvantaged people.Actually, project partners from all of participating countries are implementing training courses and other measures for working inclusion of disadvantaged people. With respect to described rationale our OVERALL OBJECTIVE was to support women from countryside for acquiring knowledge and competencies needed for their personal development, employability and inclusion to the labor market.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES of the project were:-to enable women from countryside for smooth transition to work and/or further education with the help of work based learning in the area of horticulture, social services in the countryside and entrepreneurship;­-to establish a women self-help group, aimed to collectively overcome barriers at knowledge acquiring, at creating business networks and at mutual motivation;­-to foresee steps for or integration of prepared programs and methodology into school system;­-to prepare measures for integration of prepared programs for multifunctional farming in actions of local and regional development.In the GROW project participated 6 organizations from 3 countries (ITA, HUN, SLO).Among partners was faculty for horticulture and medicinal plants, agricultural secondary school, training center in the field of social economy, social enterprise, consortium, operating in the area of working inclusion and organization dealing with countryside development. Project partners had professional knowledge connected with introduction of self-help groups, development of group multifunctional farming practices, training, network building and policy preparation. Complementary knowledge existed in the consortium for carrying out project activities and preparing project outputs and results.Most important RESULTS were:1) Model for establishing woman self-help group in the area of multifunctional farming.2) Handbook for establishing self-help group and for multifunctional farming. 3) Individual training plans for the women who were included in trainings and self-help groups.4) Evaluation of training programs and methodology.5) Program for integration of prepared programs and methodology into school system.6) Program for integration of prepared programs for multifunctional social farming in actions of local and regional development.7) Organized international conference for dissemination of intellectual outputs: In November 2016 was organized international conference in Ljubljana.8) Training of trainers/mentors9) Pilot training of the countryside women (end users). Attained impact: * on participants and target groupsWomen, which were include in trainings, acquired competencies for team work and competencies in the area of multifunctional farming. This enabled them to establish a group for multifunctional farming. Better competencies of women resulted in self-employment of certain numbers of women in the area of multifunctional farming.During implementation of training programmes and at providing mentorship after the end of training we have we have found out the following:-Italy: 6 trainees established common cooperative and 1 trainee social enterprise.-Hungary: 4 trainees are planning to start a new enterprise or develop the existing own business. Majority if trainees would like to participate in advanced course.-Slovenia: 2 trainees have established common private institute. 5 trainees have prepared a network charter where they defined common competences, common goals and ways of collaboration. * on participating organizationsNew training programs and methodology to use in VET were prepared. Partners will use training program for establishing self-help group to activate vulnerable groups and promote entrepreneurship in the countryside. These training programs actually represent new services for partner organizations.* at the local and regional levelIn the municipality of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) in the documents for new programming period Institution Foundation BiT Planota with collaboration of NGOs and other stakeholders succeeded to include also contents for development of social farming:- Regional development Programme of Goriška region 2015 – 2020- Strategies of local development for the local action group (Leader Program)In the Province of Trieste is in the phase of acceptance the Regional Law on Social Agriculture. Programs and training methodology, which were developed in the GROW project, in the future will be implemented with the use of the measures that will be foreseen in the mentioned law.

Context EnterpriseThe perspective within which contextualizes the project adopts a logical system and promotes networking of resources, institutional, professional and territorial, through a strategy that includes:the development of coordination and methodological improvement of the interventions of the design and implementation of training courses and support to self-employment of disadvantaged persons by the local services that deal in various ways, of social inclusion and employmentthe expansion of the accompanying instruments and facilitating access to finance for the start-up of self-entrepreneurial projects by disadvantaged persons.GoalsGENERAL OBJECTIVE: To contribute to the improvement and modernization of policies, strategies and measures on training and social and labor inclusion of disadvantaged persons.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To enhance the entrepreneurial training and self-employment as a strategy for social and labor integration of disadvantaged persons.Participants and beneficiariesDisadvantaged persons in charge to the various services -> 16 participants, about 2,000 interested as catchmentOperators of local services (VET, social cooperation, social services, health services and employment services) -> at least 14 participants and about 200 involvedOperators and representatives of trade unions and the local development of the enterprise system, crafts, industry, trade and cooperation -> at least 4 participants and about 40 involvedExecutives and managers of the territorial system of services, policy and decision makers of the local and the PA -> at least 9 and about 30 participants involvedActivityAnalysis of existing practices and arrangement of methodologies for the analysis and evaluation of motivations, attitudes and skills necessary for starting a businessAnalysis of existing practices and provision of methodologies for the evaluation and improvement of the quality of the business idea and business planDefinition of tools and procedures for the analysis of training needs related to business and to start preparation of a model for the development of individualized plans of professional training aimed at starting businessAnalysis of existing opportunities and facilities for business creation (eg. the system of micro-credit), good practices and methodologies useful advice to support the process of business creationDefinition of the technical and professional skills needed, establishment of a program of training and teaching aids for professionals who deal with planning and accompany the paths of self-enterprisePreparation of a shared model of support and assistance to the start up of enterprise of disadvantaged personsApplication of models and the instruments provided with experimentation of the accompanying the start-up enterprise of selected subjects (with access to the system of micro-credit)Processing of the evaluation plan and evaluation of models and experimentationMethodology used in the projectThe project involves the comparative analysis, processing, and then shared the empirical testing of models, tools, methodologies and procedures for the design and the accompaniment of training courses and support to self-employment of disadvantaged people. Ample space is given to raising awareness and involvement of stakeholders as well as to the enhancement and dissemination of outputs and outcomes.Expected Results1. Increase chances of success of the business ideas and opportunities for self-employment of disadvantaged persons2. Enhanced capacity of VET, local services for the work and the inclusion of design and manage training and guidance to support self-employment of disadvantaged persons3. Increase opportunities for self-employment of the target group of selected disadvantaged peoples and accompanied part of the trial in the projectExpected impact and long-term benefitsEnhancement of entrepreneurship opportunities in key of social and work inclusion of disadvantaged people and at the same time improving the quality and effectiveness of training programs and support designed to self-employment of disadvantaged persons.It 'also provided an impact at the system level, in the long run, in terms of improvement of networking between services for training, inclusion and work in order to significantly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of all the services involved in the training and work integration of disadvantaged persons.

"<< Background >>Our proposal is based on EMPUBLIC project, which was co-financed by E+ programme. In EMPUBLIC project we have found out, that counsellors, working in employment offices, vocational and training organizations, NGOs, municipalities and other organizations, dealing with working and social integration, have a lack of competencies for working integration of difficult-to-employ people (DTE). Lack of knowledge was noticed mainly in the area of methods for counselling of DTE and employers at placing of DTE in the working process. It is enhanced the importance of an individual, multi-dimensional and tailor-made job coaching, that takes care of the Person and all his aspects. Besides, it is needed additional knowledge on methods for promoting the possible working insertion of DTE in “profit enterprises”.Among DTE our partnership identified long-term unemployed – older unemployed, low-educated workers and young people without working experiences. The COVID-19 crisis also had a negative impact on the labour market situation of DTE (Commission recommendation 2021/402).Recently, the structure of competencies required by employers from job seekers has changed significantly. They emphasize the ability to cooperate, reliability, diligence and a positive attitude (https://www.mojedelo.com/karierni-nasveti/kaj-zelijo-delodajalci-3473). From young people, employers especially request:•Fast learning,•Working habits,•Enthusiasm.This, in turn, requires changes in counselling methods and additional knowledge and working methods from the above-mentioned consultants. Also, in this case, multi-dimensional and tailor-made job coaching is needed. In EMPUBLIC project we have also found out that collaboration and exchange of information among different organisations is weak: only in Italy and Spain, we have noticed, that there are some cases of good cooperation between different organisations in the area of the working integration process of DTE; but too often public and private services do not communicate sufficiently, and the network of services provided is fragmented. The beneficiaries are confused and feel lost in a world of bureaucracy. Based on these findings, we have identified also needs for:-Better exchange of knowledge among counsellors for DTE. -Coordinator, who will coordinate activities of the community for the employment of DTE.Before project preparation, the partnership found out, that in the participating countries there are NO OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED PROGRAMMES for counselling of DTE.According to the context, presented above, the target groups of the project are:-Counsellors, lecturers/trainers and mentors, working in employment offices, NGOs, VET organizations and other organizations, working with DTE. -Decision-makers, employed at the above-mentioned organizations.-Regional and national politicians, which can support different actions and measures for the employment of DTE.-Participants with fewer opportunities – difficult-to-employ persons. In the project, activities will be directly involved app 190 participants and indirectly app. 750 participants.<< Objectives >>With respect to the described needs we have set the following project objectives: 1)To empower counsellors in employment offices, vocational and training organizations, NGOs and local communities for better use of methods and approaches for working integration of DTE. 2)To promote the exchange of experiences and good practises among counsellors, coming from different organizations in the area of working and social integration of DTE. 3)To empower a “community coordinator” to coordinate community activities for social and working integration of DTE. 4)To improve collaboration and networking among different organizations in the process of working and social integration of DTE.5)To prepare a programme for the integration of prepared training programs and methodology into the curriculum of VET and other organizations operating in the area of working and social integration of DTE.6)To prepare methodologies for the identification and certification of informally acquired knowledge for new professional profile – “Counsellor for DTE”. Aim: to standardize education and training contents and methods for the “counsellor for DTE"" and to increase accessibility to standardized programmes for this profile.<< Implementation >>To address the above-described goals, in the COM-IN project, we have foreseen the development of the following projects’ results:a)Competence model for difficult-to-employ people - DTE (R1). Aim: to identify counsellors’ competences for successful working integration of DTE.b)Training programme for the counsellor for difficult-to-employ people (R2). Aim: to prepare a training programme for the empowerment of counsellors for better use of methods and approaches for working integration of DTEa)Competence model for the community coordinator for DTE (R3). Aim: to identify competences of decision-makers for coordinating community activities for better social and working integration of DTE. b)Training programme for the community coordinator for DTE (R4). Aim: to prepare a training programme for the empowerment of “community coordinator” to coordinate community activities for social and working integration of DTE.c)Programme for integration of prepared training programs into the curriculum of VET and other organizations, operating in the area of working and social integration of DTE (R5): to foresee steps for the use of prepared programmes within organizations, which are dealing with working integration of DTE.d)Certification programme proposal for ""counsellor for DTE"" (R6). Aim: to standardize the informally acquired knowledge and competences of counsellors for DTE. We will implement two “Learning /Teaching/Training short-term joint staff training events:-On the 1st event we will train counsellors, teachers and trainers, which will be included in the project. Aim: to train them for using the »Training programme for counsellor for DTE”. -On the 2nd event we will train decision-makers, which are employed in partners’ organizations. Aim: to train them for using the “Training programme for the community coordinator for DTE”. After each LTT event we will organize short trainings for EXTERNAL TRAINEES in each country: a)On the 1st short training we will train counsellors in employment offices, vocational and training organizations, NGOs and local communities. Aims:-To empower “external” counsellors and trainers, which are employed in other organizations, for using the »Training programme for counsellor for DTE”.-To actually establish the network for the transfer and exchange of knowledge among counsellors and trainers, coming from organizations in the area of working integration of DTE in each participating area and transnational network.b)On the 2nd short training we will train external decision-makers in employment offices, vocational and training organizations, NGOs and local communities. Aims:-To empower “external” decision-makers, which are employed in other organizations, for using the “Training programme for the community coordinator”.-To actually establish a territorial network for the promotion of employment of DTE in each country. In order to evaluate project methodology, we will carry out pilot training of end-users (difficult-to-employ persons), using R2 and R4 training programmes. In each project region, 5 participants will be trained.We will implement also 5 SC-PMT meetings in different countries in order to facilitate the successful implementation of the project. To promote further use and dissemination of project’ results, we will organize Multiplier Event in Brussels.We have foreseen a variety of activities for sharing, promotion and use of the project's results to different audiences inside and outside partnership: meetings with target groups, press conferences, social networks, web pages, (trans)sectorial networks, EU Dissemination Platform, EPALE…).We have foreseen also a variety of activities for strengthening the project sustainability (i.e. training of counsellors and decision-makers, trainings of end-users, networks maintenance…).<< Results >>Key results that will be prepared during the project and on its completion:a)Competence model for ""counsellor for DTE”.b)Training programme for ""counsellor for difficult-to-employ people"".c)4 networks for the transfer and exchange of knowledge in the area of working and social integration of DTE established.d)Competence model for “community coordinator for DTE”.e)Training programme for “community coordinator for difficult-to-employ people”.f)3 territorial networks for promotion of employment of DTE established.g)Programme for integration of prepared programs and methodology into curriculum of VET and other organizations.h)6 Certification programme proposal for ""counsellor for DTE"" prepared by the partnership.Expected impacts and benefits in the next 5 years after the project end:-120 empowered counsellors, mentors and trainers operating in the area of working and social integration of DTE for better working integration of DTE.-60 empowered decision-makers employed in organizations operating in the area of working and social integration of DTE for better collaboration among these organizations. -1 international network (of 150 members) and 3 national networks (each of 30 members) for transfer and exchange of knowledge among counsellors established.-3 territorial networks for promotion of employment of DTE established, each of 15 organizations.-Number of programme proposals for certification “Counsellor for DTE” accepted by authorized national points: at least 3 in all participating countries.In order to reinforce the achievement of described impacts, we have anticipated which activities each partner should carry out after the completion of the project. In long term, we want to improve process of working and social integration of DTE in order that DTE will have more efficient assistance at their disposal, which should result in better integration."

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT Context:-The crisis of the labour market system in Europe, in particular in Southern Europe;-The appearance of a need is linked to the socioeconomic stability of the nucleolus; -There is a system of opportunities for the socio-employment/self employment integration of disadvantaged people.Therefore, the project focused on deepening these opportunities, working on social clauses, thus widening the spectrum on interventions Therefore, the project interacted with other service systems (social and health services, social cooperation, employment services) in order to: -increase the services' reading ability of the skills and competences of the disadvantaged person that are necessary for social and labour inclusion;-extend the range of employment inclusion and training opportunities for disadvantaged people.OBJECTIVESContribute to the improvement and modernization of policies, strategies and measures related to the training and social and labour inclusion of disadvantaged people. Specific objective: increase the opportunities for training, self-employment and job placement of disadvantaged people in the context of procurements, conventions and entrustment of goods/services by the Public Administration. NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS -10 partners of the project from 3 countries: Italy, Spain and Slovenia, in the following categories: one Educational Vocational Training Centre, one NGO, one Local Public body and one research institute in Italy; two foundations (one of which is public) and one Local Public body in Spain; one foundation, one NGO and one Regional Public body in Slovenia;-32 organisations involved in various capacities during the development of the project: five Social Services; two Social and Health Services; one Regional Public body, four Employment Centres, six Associations, ten Social Cooperatives, two Training Institution, one Social Enterprise, one Religious moral body. ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE PROJECT:Analysis of regulations and good practices related to public procurement with social clausesDefinition of a tool for training, support and social and work integration/self-employment of disadvantaged people and an easy to use compendiumInterviews with operators of social services, employment centres, administration agencies, start-up incubators in order to define the training needs of operatorsDefinition of technical and professional skills for all the operators involved at all levels in the social and occupational integration/self-employment of disadvantaged peoplePreparation of the four training modules for operators, equipped with boards, questionnaires, module development models Application of models and tools: n. 21 courses for disadvantaged users, n. 265 participants, n. 3 courses on social clauses, n. 23 participants, n. 9 procurement with social causesElaboration of the evaluation plan and evaluation of the models. EXPECTED RESULTS:Increase the employability through the application of social clauses in public procurementImprove and widen the network of partners and transmit the training models and guidelines prepared for their application even in areas that are not involved in the partnershipImprovement of the design and management skills of the training to support the social/work/self-employment integration of disadvantaged people in relation to the work of contamination and permeation of different cultures of reference. METHODOLOGY USED IN THE PROJECTThe project involved the comparative analysis and the elaboration and, therefore, the sharing of guidelines, tools, training models, evaluation models aimed at increasing the possibilities of integration into the world of work of disadvantaged people. EXPECTED IMPACT AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS Output O1 created a theoretical operational product that can potentially be spread and applicable not only among PMT members, but also in the European context. Enhancement of the opportunities for social and working inclusion of disadvantaged people and at the same time improve the quality and effectiveness of training programmes for operators. Models for training operators will continue to be used after the trial, which will allow them to be further disseminated.A system-wide, long-term impact was also provided in terms of improving the network of services for training, inclusion and work in order to significantly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of all services involved in the training and integration of disadvantaged people.