The CirculYOUNG project, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, officially launched with its kickoff meeting on December 16-17 in Arigna, Roscommon, Ireland.
🌱 The CirculYOUNG initiative, titled “CIRCULar Economy for YOUNG NEETs with a Migrant Background,” aims to support youth NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) from migrant backgrounds in Ireland, Greece, Italy, and Austria. The project focuses on enhancing their access to employment opportunities, facilitating community integration, and addressing both local and European economic challenges while contributing to the EU and UN sustainability goals.
⚙️ Hosted by Roscommon Integrated Development Co. Ltd., the kickoff meeting featured an inspiring opening speech that outlined the project’s ambitious objectives. These objectives include developing a program designed to rebuild motivation and provide guidance to empower youth NEETs, thereby improving their social and economic inclusion.
📝 Over the two-day agenda, participants engaged in presentations from project partners, discussions on roles and responsibilities, and sessions focused on strategic approaches to the circular economy, sustainability, social integration, and multicultural training methodologies.
During the meeting, the team concentrated on Work Package 2 (WP2:Outreach and Engagement Strategy : Mapping the Journey of Youth NEETs into Circular Economy Empowerment ), where they discussed and drafted a questionnaire aimed at NEET youth and youth workers to engage them in the Open Consultation and Engagement process. This questionnaire will serve as a crucial first step in understanding their needs and experiences. Additionally, plans for a workshop scheduled for February were outlined to further engage stakeholders.
With representatives from all partner organizations—Roscommon Integrated Development Co. Ltd. (project leader), CRADLE, Training 2000, and BildungsLAB—attending in person, the meeting fostered a collaborative environment for idea exchange.
📣 Participants had the opportunity to meet consortium members and discuss strategies for key tasks while introducing the project’s work packages:
👉 Project Management
👀 Outreach and Engagement Strategy: Mapping the journey of youth NEETs into circular economy empowerment.
👍 Upskilling Program Creation: Developing a training program in circular economy tailored for young NEETs with migrant backgrounds.
➡️ CirculYOUNG Bootcamps: Piloting experiments and creating a resource toolbox.
✅ Dissemination Activities: Conducting communication and public events to raise awareness about CirculYOUNG.
Following the kickoff meeting, we are optimistic that collaboration among all partners will strengthen our alliance towards achieving our objectives and promoting circularity!
♻️ We are excited to be part of this project that aims to transform the involvement of youth NEETs with migrant backgrounds in the circular economy while fostering their active participation in community development
Stay tuned for more updates from this meeting and the CirculYOUNG project! 🌟
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