Description
The "Projet'Arte" is an innovative project of social inclusion and employability for children and young people from 6 to 30 years old in a socially vulnerable situation, using art as a tool. Recipients will attend a series of training workshops for personal, social and professional skills, art and training workshops respecting the learning time of each individual. The purpose shall be the creation of integrated training paths, taking into account their expectations, motivations, interests and life experiences, building an integrated pathway, with the objective of social and professional integration. This "Skills Incubator" will align the actual skills of the project recipients and existing vacancies in the labour market, encouraging each individual to work a set of skills required for entrepreneurship and to successfully integrate the labour market. The project also aims to advocate for the improvement of the existing public policies by identifying new ways to mitigate youth unemployment, and the associated social and economic costs.
Summary of project results
In the municipality of Gondomar (close to Porto) there are groups of children and young people whose access to education and employment is at risk due to several factors: poverty / social exclusion; absenteeism / school dropout; inadequate school curricula; hard access to ludic-pedagogical responses and activities promoting personal and academic development. In September 2014, 35.5% of the unemployed in the municipality of Gondomar (registered in the Employment Office), were aged between 16 and 34. Exposure to deviant behavior models, low personal, social and employability skills, as well as family, ethnic-cultural and social factors, favoring the continuity of a poverty and social exclusion cycle, contribute to this situation which brings up high economic and social costs. The project proposed to develop personal and social abilities and learning through arts. 622 vulnerable young people were involved in several ateliers (education, scenic arts, capacity-building, incubation, employment). The latter specifically developed employability competencies for professional inclusion. 151 young adults have successfully completed training on entrepreneurship. 146 education agents were trained as well. 81 youths have been professionally integrated (employed) due to their participation in the project. The project has surpassed its initial targets with the exception of the employed people (100 were the target). The promoter reports significant learning on working with arts to promote social and professional inclusion. The methodology is already being used in other projects and replicated in other situations and target groups. The work undertaken with the community and the partnerships established are another added value of the project.
Summary of bilateral results