PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The Laboure HotSpot Project is an initiative aimed at strengthening the position of youth in the labour market and empowering NGOs working in the youth sector. The project activities aim to identify key stakeholders, conduct youth research and data processing, organize focus groups, and engage young people in structured dialogue sessions. The project results will provide innovative solutions for the inclusion of young people in the workforce, improve their socio-economic position, and provide opportunities for youth empowerment. So far, alongside two transnational meetings, these activities were held: The project focuses on three participating countries, and it is led by a consortium of partner organizations that have joined forces to provide innovative solutions for the inclusion of young people in the workforce. The Laboure HotSpot project includes a series of activities aimed at identifying key stakeholders, conducting youth research and data processing, organizing focus groups, and engaging young people in structured dialogue sessions. One of the first activities of the Laboure HotSpot project is the mapping procedure of youth organizations and NGOs dealing with the issue of youth integration in its respective country. The activity involved the participation of all partner organizations, with each one conducting a mapping procedure of youth organizations and NGOs dealing with the issue of youth integration in its respective country. The mapping procedure aims to shed light on the position of youth in the three participating countries and collect data on youth organizations’ activities in each country separately. The acquired data is shared among partner organizations and used as an information source for the development of a comprehensive database representing NGOs’ systems of values and activity perspective directed at the area of providing opportunities for youth integration into the labour market. Another activity of the Laboure HotSpot project is the analysis of all the contributing factors in the poor positioning of youth, which disable their efforts, and those of the subject matter involved NGOs, to enter the labour market, reach job opportunities and access the social and economic sphere to improve their well-being. The method used in carrying out the activity was online survey of noted information, previous historical data shared, interviews provided, reports from public bodies, agencies covering the subject matter and NGOs. Partner organizations created an online survey that consisted of questions regarding all three participating countries. After all the necessary data were collected, partner organizations undertook the procedure of data analysis. The information collected will be a basis on which further discussion on mitigating constraints and opening towards opportunities will be established. Stemming from the mapping procedure and developed toolbox, key actors within the NGO community were organized in expert focus groups. The purpose of the focus groups was the gathering of expert input in the area of youth inclusion in employment and the labour market. Three focus group meetings were held, each covering a specific interest category. The delivered output from the focus groups in the shape of feedback and perspectives will be used as a blueprint and source of information in carrying out further activity, in which a Guidebook Manual for Youth Inclusion in Labour Market and Youth Work will be developed. In line with the vision and mission of the European Youth Forum, leading European platform for youth organizations, three structured dialogue sessions were organized to involve youth in the participating process through collaboration and joint shaping of recommendations to improve their position in the socio-economic context. The structured dialogue is a tool enabling youth policies to reflect their needs, challenges they face, and ambition, and an area in which youth can actively participate in developing policies on national, regional, and European levels.

SECOND TRANSNACIONAL MEETING

The second transnational meeting was held from 26th to 31st October 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany. This meeting provided an opportunity for the project partners to revise the progress that had been achieved up to that point. The focus was on the key knowledge areas of scope, schedule, costs, and quality, with the aim of improving the risk management aspect of the project and ensuring that everything was being carried out as planned. The meeting also allowed the partners to share lessons learned from each prior stage of the project. This sharing of knowledge and experience created a perspective on best practices, differences in challenges, and capacities to build on. Each partner was able to share new learning on dealing with youth inclusion and empowerment, making the meeting a valuable learning experience for everyone involved. One of the main outcomes of the meeting was a clear understanding of each project period and a review of the success rate of project activities in line with the baseline. This helped the project partners to establish future work and ensure that the project stayed on track. The meeting also resulted in shared practices, analyzed impacts, and mutual learning, all of which will be beneficial for future activities. The transnational meetings play a vital role by providing a joint structure for monitoring and controlling the project. By analyzing the outputs, feedback, and impacts from each project activity, the partners can maintain control over the knowledge areas and minimize risks. Overall, the second transnational meeting of the Laboure HotSpot project was a success. It provided an opportunity for the project partners to review progress, share knowledge and experience, and establish future work. By continuing to hold these meetings throughout the project, the partners can ensure that the project stays on track and that people are included in activities across different countries.

FIRST TRANSNACIONAL MEETING (KICK-OFF)

The kick-off meeting of the project was held, from 27th to 29th of April, in form of the first transnational meeting that gathered representatives of participating organizations. Subsequently, the kick-off meeting of the project was held in form of the first transnational meeting that gathered representatives of participating organizations. Subsequently, two more transnational meetings will be organized. The kick-off meeting was envisaged to allow representatives of participating organizations to discuss project management and implementation issues as well as to go through each activity and define what will be the results and outcomes of particular activity. Furthermore, representatives of participating organizations went through the tasks and responsibilities of each member of the consortium in order to enable the project to be implemented smoothly and without delays. This resulted in the creation of monitoring plan which is the main outcome of the kick-off meeting. However, the participants also discussed the project management strategy of which monitoring plan is a constituent part. Therefore, the meeting was divided in three parts. The goal of first part was to create project Management Strategy and go through stages of project management in order to revise key knowledge areas such as scope, time, cost, communication and risk. The second part of the meeting resulted in the creation of monitoring plan which encompasses the details of the budget as well as activities and their outcomes. Monitoring plan was shared among the representatives of participating organization to allow them to follow the predefined tasks. In the aftermath of the meeting, members of the consortium discussed technical and administrative matters related to project. They signed the partnership agreement in which they express their dedication and willingness to actively participate in project implementation and achievement of its objectives.