Description
This project aims to leverage the sustainable development of Marvila, a parish of Lisbon, by strengthening the local economy. Within its scope, territorially sustainable pilot initiatives aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship shall be launched, and a medium and long term strategy will be outlined. Being more than a social and professional inclusion project for individuals in vulnerable situations, its initiatives promote the economic, environmental and cultural dimensions of governance. It involves a system for bolstering the local entrepreneurial base, employability and income generation. It also integrates a producers’ club, namely for garden products, homemade foodstuffs and urban crafts. It also proposes the creation of consumer clubs, relying on the proximity of local producers, a local innovation lab, and a local brand.
Summary of project results
According to the 2011 Census, the resident population of the neighborhood of Marvila was 38 102 people (7% of Lisbon), most of them Portuguese. 20% of the population are young people between the ages of 15 and 30 and only 19% of the population is over 65 23% of the active population are young people between 15 and 30 years of age, of whom 25% were unemployed in 2011. Currently this rate should be close to 30%. 40% of the young unemployed population are looking for their first job. Most young people have education up to the 3rd cycle (41%) of basic education. However, about 3% of young people are illiterate and more than 10% did not complete compulsory schooling. This was the situation of the target neighborhood of the project. However, since the number of available youngsters was much shorter than expected the project was adapted to cover other areas of Lisbon where similar situations of vulnerable young people were identified. In total 119 young people were trained on entrepreneurial competencies, of which 64 successfully completed training. The adopted methodology was based on non-formal education and training and involved cross-cutting competencies/soft skills (like self-esteem, own initiative, resilience, innovation, cooperative relationship) and specific technical skills related with design and implementation of business plans. A Local Lab was also set up dealing with creative and viable solutions, generating revenues for young people in the short run. 15 trade brands were created for 15 entrepreneurs as well as sales channels for their products. The number of trained youngsters is behind the initial targets but is still acceptable; the NGO has made all efforts (including extension of the geographical area of the project) to meet the targets. The project brought about a very rich experience to the NGO and its partners, namely regarding exchange of knowledge and practices between them, and made clear that an initial more in-depth diagnosis must be made in future projects.
Summary of bilateral results