The Covid 19 directly influenced the increase of unemployment rates for young adults not in employment, education or training (NEET), with women and other vulnerable groups being the most affected. This is particularly true for countries such as: Hungary, Romania, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Croatia where prior to the pandemics, 1 in 4 young individuals aged 15-29 belonged to the NEET category. 

To combat this problem, organizations from these countries combined efforts and created the Growing Your Potential (GYP) – a project aimed at at using social entrepreneurship as a leverage for unemployed youth in the post-covid 19 era. The main purpose of this project is to stimulate engagement and entrepreneurship, increase employability of NEETs (20-30) and provide equal access to education to all. The individuals enrolled in the new educational program will develop social and practical skills and competences as well as a proactive mindset, while simultaneously getting access to international networks and resources. The new program will make them ready to found/join social businesses and become proactive change-makers who will inspire and mobilise their peers.

Together with representatives from partner organizations YHO attended a transnational meeting in November together with SLOAM – Agencija za mlade, Hrvatski ured za kreativnost i inovacije, Asociatia Social Innovation Solutions, SIA Social Impact Award gGmbH, Hub for Change – spolek and Fenntartható Vállalkozásokért Alapítvány, to plan and finalize the implementation of the project objectives. 

The project is funded by Erasmus+