Inclusion Labs

"<< Background >>Inclusion Labs was a cooperation partnership project implemented in Finland, Georgia, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. The project lasted 15.9.2022-14.1.2024 and consisted of a series of activities in all the partner countries. Youth unemployment and precarious job opportunities were the issues that we wanted highlight in our project. Young people with fewer opportunities and especially young refugees with a migration background are particularly exposed. In this project we worked towards to raise awareness on migration issues, to empower young people with fewer opportunities, to prevent radicalization & social exclusion, to connect them with relevant stakeholders and external actors and to increase their employability. We have addresses two main needs: 1. The first need concerned the involved organizations in this project. We wanted to reinforce and develop the capacity of the participating organizations working with young people with migrant and refugee backgrounds. 2. The second need was related to young people with migrant background, young refugees and IDPs in our local communities with whom the involved organization are working. We wanted to empower the above-mentioned youth with new skills and competences.<< Objectives >>We wanted to achieve the following objectives by implementing the project: 1) Capacity-Building of each partner regarding empowering the target group. 2) Establishing “Inclusion Labs” at each organization 3) Providing the local target group with skills for personal and professional development. 4) Career Days in each country in order to let the young people to seek for possible jobs.5) Creating an “Inclusion Lab-Encyclopedia” to disseminate to project results to a Broader audience working with and for the young people. 6) To foster social Inclusion and employability and preventing radicalization.<< Implementation >>The ""Inclusion Labs"" Project was executed through four work packages (WPs) each containing various activities. WP1 focused on project management, establishing foundational plans and regular coordination with regular meetings. WP2, aimed at capacity building, featured a training course for staff on 8 thematic topics, followed by job shadowings for experiential learning and getting best practices among partner and a seminar to refine workshop methods. WP3 established local Inclusion Labs as hubs in each partner country to implement the workshops on the trained topics. WP4 centered on dissemination and visibility, creating the ""Inclusion Lab Encyclopaedia"" as a comprehensive resource and organizing career days to extend the project's reach. This structure facilitated effective management, skill development, practical application, and broad dissemination of project outcomes.<< Results >>•Capacity Building: Partners were equipped with innovative methods to empower migrant background youth, through training and job shadowing, enhancing collaborative skills and methodologies.•Inclusion Labs Established: Each organization launched an Inclusion Lab, becoming centers for skill development and community engagement, directly benefiting marginilized local youth.•Skill Enhancement: Workshops in the Labs provided youth with vital personal and professional development skills, contributing to their social inclusion and employability.•Career Days: Held across participating countries, these events connected migrant background youth with employment opportunities, enhancing their job prospects and they found internships, apprentices and even jobs.•Inclusion Lab Encyclopedia: A comprehensive online guide created for youth workers and trainers, compiling developed methods in the 8 key arreas, effective engagement strategies and best practices, applicable at both local and international levels.•Social Inclusion and Employability: The project's initiatives significantly bolstered social inclusion and employability among migrant background youth addressing factors leading to radicalisation."