"The initiative for “Rural Active Youth: RAY Job Portal” has come from the real need of young people in Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia to find appropriate jobs in their local environment, not far from where they live. The current economic and social conditions are still not friendly towards young job seekers. There is high unemployment rate among young people and many of those who have jobs face uncertainty, poor quality of employment and discrimination due to lack of work experience. The primary objective of the RAY project was to design, develop, deliver and test a new innovative Job Search Platform, which has already been working for several months as a meeting point between young job seekers and relevant employers from local rural areas. It helps match their needs through online tools. Young people can present their competences and skills, employers present their needs and expectations. The project promotes empowerment of young people also through a Cutting-edge Training on job search, which ensures that rural youth is equipped with necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to successfully showcase their abilities to potential employers by using the Job Search Platform. The concepts of the RAY portal and the distance job search training are unique in all partner communities, where job search web sites do exist but their objectives and targets are different. RAY Job Search Platform serves rural areas and empowers young people there to showcase their skills and talents, so that both employers and job seekers can match and contribute to the economic development of their communities. The project targets young job seekers from the partners’ rural regions who face social, geographical and economic obstacles, youth NGOs, youth centers, youth councils, youth clubs, education and training providers. In addition, the project addresses employers (rural businesses - SMEs), whose businesses suffer from skills shortage, public employment services, chambers of commerce, associations of employers; development agencies; local policy and decision makers in the youth field. Two intellectual outputs have been created as initially planned: - Job Search Platform - jobs.rabotilnik.com - Cutting-edge Job Search Training for Youth (moodle e-learning course) in EN and in all partner languages - https://e-learning.rabotilnik.com/course/view.php?id=10Besides the two intellectual outputs some other results have been achieved: multiplier events in the partners' regions with much more participants than initially planned, in addition to a blended mobility of 17 disadvantaged young people between 19 and 30 years of age from 4 different countries supported by 4 youth workers, who regularly met virtually before and after a physical 5-day training in Mengeš, Slovenia. The mobility acted as an opportunity to receive regular feedback from the end-users in the process of creating the two intellectual outputs. The project results enhance the social inclusion of young people into the labor market and deepen the link between the rural employers and the job seekers in the rural committees of the partners. They provide rural disadvantaged youth with modern tools for successful job search. Long term effects: - new and better solution in the employment process in the partners' rural communities; - increase of employment of young people in the rural areas and reduction of the number of young unemployed; - prevention of ""brain drain"", depopulation and aging in the rural communities; - positive influence on the development of the local economies; - stronger trust and cooperation in the local environment for common goals."

SEEDs among NEETs was implemented as a strategic partnership for exchanging of good practices. It was a result of the needs of youth workers and organizations in the rural areas of 6 European countries to combat the NEETs phenomenon (BG, LV, MT, PT, RO, SI). The worst NEETs situation in Europe and within this partnership was and still is in Bulgaria where the total percentage is much higher - 26.1, followed by Romania. At the same time unemployment rates of youth aged 15-24 in the EU rural areas is 22%, in Bulgaria it goes to 30.9%, in Portugal to 28.3%. Taking into consideration these figures the partners within SEEDs among NEETs made efforts to achieve the following objectives: 1) increased capacity of rural youth workers to support NEETs and get them involved in local community life, the training system and/or the labour market; 2) improved non-formal learning opportunities for 14 people active in youth work in rural areas; 3) improved quality in the youth work of the participating organizations and their communities. About 650 representatives of the targets benefited from the project activities. Youth organizations and workers, public authorities, schools and school psychologists, local organizations engaged with young people, NGOs, local development agencies, parents and relatives of NEETs and youth volunteers in the rural areas got involved in the promotion and dissemination events, study visits, surveys, inter-institutional meetings and working sessions, transnational meetings, etc. 14 youth workers took part in a short term joint staff training event which added value to the project as it further provided for non-formal learning opportunities and Youthpass certified skills. While encouraging inter-institutional cooperation and networking, active and full engagement of participants, reflections and self-reflections, critical thinking and comparison, the partnership created the following deliverables: comparative analyses on the challenges to approach NEETs, an open web space of good practices and a set of projects helping NEETs become successful. All partners developed their own strategic plans for local inter-institutional cooperation to enhance inclusion of NEETs in community life or in the job market. Throughout the project the partnership acted as a model example of a cross-sector and inter-institutional approach to NEETs as it included youth NGOs and non-formal training providers, a development agency and local authority, a group of schools providing VET and entrepreneurship trainings to students and adults, a professional association representing businesses. As a result of the project, similar local networks designed strategic community plans to prevent and combat the NEETs phenomenon. These, along with partner action plans, will provide for the project sustainability and long-term effect upon the organizations and participants involved and indirectly upon local NEETs and communities. Furthermore, they enhanced and will synergies between sectors and institutions.

<< Background >>Young GREENterpreneurs project is covering regions with significant green development and youth employment challenges. As highlighted in their green strategies (SI, IE, HU) and economic development strategies (BG, MK, ES), accelerating youth employment, better utilization of territorial youth potential as well as addressing environmental issues is a core focus in 2021-2027.Additionally, the involved organisations are all significant stakeholders of their youth support, business development and sustainability ecosystem. Their declared role covering green innovative idea development (HU), better involvement of youth to territorial development processes (SI), sustainability oriented territorial development (IE), develop viable youth business orientation (SI), accelerating startup ecosystem (BG), combination of green product and business development (MK) and offer digital development-oriented networking for youth (ES). As of their development goals, Young GREENterpreneurs can widen their scope of thematic youth support activities as well as introduce new services on the needs of the sustainable territorial development, while increasing their competences in the topic addressed..A further element is their transnational orientation, their sustainability orientation can be better developed, and their economic development potential can be accelerated. So Young GREENterpreneurs not just having positive effect on their organisational operation but accelerates the economic performance of their region on a sustainable way.The following complex approach can strengthen the partners’ integration to the youth support ecosystem, together with a positive effect on their role on local development initiatives with any thematic focus.Project will answer the target group needs with development of transnational GREENtrepreneurs online hub, a tailor-made green innovative product development training and development of a set of training modules supporting youth green business development: - It will develop more complex, interactive solution for joint competence development and the combination of green industry, entrepreneurship and startup competences which is very important, but is not existing in the current initiatives yet, especially for digital solutions- It will provide training and coaching for youth outside of formal education, enable networking and transnational cooperation.- It will provide a digital environment which suits the young people's needs. The partnering organizations will adapt youth services to the new trends.- It will enable access to innovative product development training, collaboration and to achieve sustainability goals.- It will motivate young people on their joint and individual skill development (what is highlighted in the EU Education and Training Monitor 2019)- It will build green entrepreneurship spirit and culture crucial to influence young future work and life career decisions with and supporting them to find their own solutions.- Special competences will be addressed through training for green digital solutions and the startup nature fitted to individual needs which are now fully out of the curricula at any educational level.- It will provide innovative practical training tools to youth workers to support their own youth networks.<< Objectives >>Young GREENtrepreneurs aims to tackle the need to increase the motivation on entrepreneurship among young and answers GREEN challenges at the same time, in 3 ways (PRs) with:- GREENtrepreneurs online hub - set of online tools for collaborative project development of green digital solutions: development of a transnational on-line platform as an interactive cooperation and competence development framework that successfully integrates green industry, entrepreneurship and startup project development for solving existing environmental problems by digital solutions at EU level.- GREEN product development training modules: open online training package fully covering green product development competences. - Green business development training modules: set of training modules supporting youth green business development by step-by-step approach within the framework of an 8 modules online training package. The objectives of the project are therefore the following:To empower and equip youth, youth workers and startup community with innovative digital tools to gain new skills, competences and practical knowledge on developing their own businesses with community value on green entrepreneurship (healthy society, water protection, clean energy, sustainable communities, responsible consumption/production, climate mitigation, protection of natural ecosystems, sustainable use of resources).To develop training modules on GREEN product development, so young get new skills and get familiar with new, practically usable knowledge. Startup community and youth workers will have the chance to further cooperate with youth on the topic through developed modules.To develop training modules on GREEN business development to increase green entrepreneurship competences of young. Schools, educating institutions and youth workers To disseminate the project results beyond the partnership (internationally)To promote green entrepreneurship among young would-be entrepreneurs (also through an EU wide open call), especially young adults from 18 yrs on and students, startup companies, youth workers.To promote the use of digital tools on EU level to encourage green entrepreneurship among youth.<< Implementation >>The Young GREENtrepreneurs project will run project management (by CTRIA), promotion and dissemination activities (DCHS) through the whole duration of the project. The creation of the project results has been carefully planned, enough time, budget and staff expertise has been allocated.Activities within PR1 development “GREENtrepreneurs online hub” (led by CTRIA): Defining the green thematic content of the platform - 300 surveys with young will be implemented in all partner countries (50 per country)Technical Development of the platform - design and programmingContent development of the platform: features of green idea generator, green economy brain bar, interactive online proofing and validation, remote team working, community gathering tool, interactive business modelling Developing a model for sustainable operation of the platformTest operation of the platform among the targets in each partner country where testing of the on-line hub will be implemented with at least 190 users (through an EU wide open call) Monitoring and evaluation and summary guideline preparationActivities within PR2 development “Green product training modules” (led by Kikstštarter): Customization of the modules to the target groupDevelopment of training content with technical specification Preparation of the internal staff for product development training where all partners delegate 1 internal expert to the activityImplementation of the international startup week Monitoring and evaluation of the results and final upgrade of training package for supporting the durability and adaptation of project results in further similar initiativesSummary guidelines preparationActivities within PR3 development “Green business training modules (led by DEFOIN): Definition of the training modules, where the subtasks are reviewing existing adaptable elements at EU level, analysing all needed elements of green business development and validation of the modules’ compositionDevelopment of the module content, subtasks are development of individual training modules, evaluation of content and finalization of modules. implementation and monitoring of the training. The subtasks are preparation of trainers, youth workers within the partner organisations, implementation of a set of training at transnational level and monitoring the efficiency and upgrading final training modules. The training will be implemented also online and open for any youth from the partner countries and beyond. Summary guidelines preparation.Two trainings will be organized: C1 Short-term training “Startup week on green product development” and C2 Short-term training event “Green business development”. Activity consists of blended learning opportunities designed through non-formal and informal education methods. The mobility is going to involve 40 participants (F2F) and 20 participants online from partner organisations and through EU wide open call. Multiplier events will be organized (6 events) in each participating country with 30 participants from the target group. Events will enable us to check the quality and adequacy of the final results.<< Results >>In Young GREENtrepreneurs project the following results will be generated: - GREENtrepreneurs online hub (PR1): Transnational online hub/platform will be developed as an interactive cooperation and competence development framework that successfully integrates green industry – entrepreneurship – startup project development for solving existing environmental problems by digital solutions at EU level. The hub can successfully support to develop marketable products/services, through having all needed elements for the competence development for the target groups. In line with its objective, the platform will be a valuable collaboration surface for youth idea owners, product/service developers and all youth interested in digital green solutions. Sharing their ideas and jointly developing their solutions and finding proper partners for that is the core element from a user perspective, while increasing their related skills. From the perspective of the involvement of the users, an EU wide series of open calls for participation in its activities will be implemented. The platform will integrate: idea generation and sharing; idea progressing, knowledge sharing and learning interactions; online working environment for youth.- Green product development training modules (PR2): developed and customized a tailor-made green innovative product development training for youth (15-29 years old) implemented through a transnational startup week (set of events lasting a working week, including masterclasses, workshops, meetups and social events). The final outcome is a tested training package covering the full product lifecycle of any digital green solutions of youth. 4 modules (ideation, integration, validation and implementation) will be prepared for young to develop their skills on the one hand and get familiar with new, practically usable knowledge on product development. - Green business development training modules (PR3): open online training modules will be developed, covering green business development competences like funding, market strategies, legal background, business planning, online marketing, sales, social impact and social entrepreneurship. It will be a tailor made and tested tool for entrepreneurship mindset development suitable for pro-active young people, young entrepreneurs/startup companies and youth workers.

<< Background >>Global use of materials has more than tripled since 1970 and could double again by 2050 (IRP&UNEP). Yearly we throw away more than 2.12 billion tonnes of waste but only 40% of household waste is currently reused, recycled or upcycled. 99% of the things we buy are trashed within 6 months. World economy is only 9% circular. Directive 2008/98/EC of the EP and the Council waste and repealing certain Directives requires the competent authorities of the Member States to draw up waste management plans. There is a need to encourage reusing and extending the useful life of products. In line with the goal to Sustainable Green Europe of the EU Youth Strategy ScaleUPcycling project wants to motivate the young to be environmentally educated and active to make a difference in their everyday lives. In all PPs countries the reuse is the most overlooked and untapped potential on the way to a society with less waste although in the past few years, a small growth of upcycling and reuse initiatives has been seen. As such upcycling largely remains a niche and requires scaling-up to truly deliver a significant impact on the environment and society. Young people are more and more aware of the challenges and risks presented by the climate crisis. The next step is to incorporate these actions to youth communities and to the whole reuse and upcycle ecosystem. Interviews, discussions and desktop research among partners showed the need of joint collaboration tools to help the young become agents of change. In this context, the project aims to deliver digital platform as collaboration space for youth idea owners, youth workers and all interested in the reuse and upcycling ecosystem. By offering new skills on community building through upcycling, the platform will increase youth and youth workers’ capacity to initiate and manage upcycle activities of their own and become local change makers – ambassadors.<< Objectives >>The project objective is to empower and equip youth and youth workers with innovative digital tools, e-Learning materials and training modules to gain new skills, competences, and practical knowledge to help them to become ambassadors of change in saving resources and reducing waste through reuse and upcycling. It will provide in-depth support of reuse community networking and enhance the motivation and communication and help youth and youth workers acquire skills to design and manage their own initiatives within their communities. The project creates a currently not existing one-spot learning and collaboration space revealing the whole ecosystem and key role of youth in it. It provides thematic knowledge sharing opportunities to target group and through ever-evolving hub end users add new content and use other users’ ideas and good practices. Project aims to achieve this in 3 ways (PRs):-ScaleUPcycling Digital Platform as an interactive cooperation and skills development framework will provide young a shared space for regular cooperation and networking.-E-learning digital roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling will equip youth workers and young with skills and content to improve their expert knowledge on reuse and upcycling.-Community building with Upcycling training modules knowledge and developing skills among young through creative learning techniques will increase (7 modules developed).<< Implementation >>The ScaleUPcycling project will run project management (by ANEL), promotion and dissemination activities (CTRIA) through the whole duration of the project. The creation of the project results has been carefully planned, enough time, budget and staff expertise has been allocated. Activities within PR1 development “ScaleUPcycling digital platform” (led by Vyara, co-leader CTRIA): Defining the reuse and upcycling thematic content of the platform« (250 surveys with young and 60 stakeholders), technical development-design and programming of the platform, development of the content related features namely features of »inspiration corner«, »ideation tool«, Digital flipbook on ecosystem roadmap (PR2), community building training modules (PR3) and »ScaleUPcycling initiatives (leaders Anel and DEFOIN), test operation of platform among the targets (180 registered young users – open call) and feedback will be collected by all PPs (lead by NGPI Tryavna school), monitoring and evaluation is responsibility of each partner and summary guideline preparation. Activities within PR2 development “e-Learning digital roadmap to reuse and upcycling” (led by AIA Menges and co-leader Anel): Concept and preparation of the roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling development, podcasts will be prepared with representatives of all 8 groups of actors, where each partner will participate upon its existing knowledge and experiences, preparation of document Roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling, preparations of motion info graphic videos, based on findings and content from the Roadmap and podcasts, collecting feedbacks and evaluation of all deliverables and possible adaptations will be incorporated, digitalization of the Roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling and summary guidelines preparation. Activities within PR3 development “Community building through upcycling training modules” (led by DEFOIN and co-leader NGPI Tryavna): all PPs will delegate 1 internal expert to the activities, preparation and definition of the training modules, preparation of the training module content, development of training modules will be conducted by each partner participating in 2 modules development, national training implementation and monitoring, feedback and evaluation of modules and possible adaptation of modules and translations, implementation, monitoring and evaluation will be led by DEFOIN and all PPs will be responsible for the implementation of the same elements, summary guidelines will be prepared. One training will be organized within PR3 - C1 Short-term joint staff training “Community Building through Upcycling. activity consists of a blended learning experience designed through a variety of formal and non-formal education methods The mobility is going to involve 18 participants (F2F) and 10 participants online from partner organisations and through open call. Multiplier events will be organized (5 events) in each participating country with 30 participants from the target group. Events will enable us to check the quality and adequacy of the final results.<< Results >>In ScaleUPcycling project the following results will be generated: - ScaleUPcycling digital platform (PR1) will be developed as an interactive cooperation and skills development framework that addresses the reuse and upcycling ecosystem and the role of EU youth in it. In line with its objective, the platform will be a valuable collaboration space for youth idea owners, youth workers and all interested in the reuse and upcycling ecosystem at EU level. A core element of the platform is sharing ideas, peer learning and joint development of reuse and upcycling community initiatives. By offering new skills on community building through upcycling, the platform will increase youth and youth workers’ capacity to initiate and manage upcycle activities of their own and become local change makers. The platform will integrate inspiration corner - collaborative tool of good practices, reuse and upcycling ideation tool to facilitate a co-creation process, ecosystem roadmap, community building interactive training modules and scenario generator of reuse and upcycling community events.- e-Learning digital roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling (PR2) will equip youth workers and young with tools, skills and content to improve their expert knowledge on reuse and upcycling. It will be implemented through Roadmap to ecosystem of reuse and upcycling, podcasts as interactive conversations with 8 groups of actors and video content of motion infographic identifying different actors and the role of youth communities. The final outcome is a Digital flipbook of Roadmap to ecosystem to reuse and upcycling that will include podcasts and motion videos. Youth communities will become aware with the whole reuse and upcycling ecosystem, individual actors and their roles, so they can use this knowledge in their advantage. Digital roadmap as a tool will encourage youth communities to become indispensable members, activists and better experts in the whole reuse and upcycling ecosystems. - Community building through upcycling training modules (PR3) will include 7 modules namely the content on concept of Circular economy, Innovative community Building practices through reusing, Active youth in the ecosystem, How the whole ecosystem work and what is the role of youth in it, How to get community involved, Best channels for community involvement, How to organise a Community Event and How to disseminate a Community Event. Community building capacities will be given to youth to become upcycling ambassadors of their own communities. Joint staff training event as ToT week will be implemented in Madrid, Spain and national trainings in partner countries. One training and a festival lead by young people will be implemented by each partner in their country. The final outcome is community building interactive training modules that will be uploaded on ScaleUPcycling platform to be further used.