Problem addressed

The pilot addressed the problem of high unemployment rate in young NEETs, especially the vulnerable young.  Young people who come from a disadvantaged social background on the verge of poverty experience low self-esteem, lack confidence and are usually disorientated, have no sense of purpose or belonging, leading them to gradual inactivity and social exclusion. 

Innovative solution

It is the first time in Greece, a European mobility project targets disadvantaged young NEETs and adopts innovative ways for reaching out to people who are not seen or heard in the community inspiring them to reset their goals and restore their hopes for a better future. It is also implemented in a region on the border with ethnic minorities and has a very sensitive geopolitical significance for both Greece and Europe. It is the first time that underprivileged young people can live and work as European citizens in another member state giving them a sense of achievement, boosting their self-esteem and confidence, and motivating them to reengage in the labour market, society and community.

Key results and benefits

Disadvantaged and deprived young NEETs enhanced their self esteem and self empowerment, upgraded their employability, improved their prospects for re-entering education/training and/or the labour market, increased their trust in the European idea. They believed that they actually deserved to pursue their dreams, set new goals and be active in the community again. The participants in the pilot found work in Germany, got a job back in Greece, entered training while others followed further counseling seeking more support for reengaging in the labour market and society. The ALMA pilot brought a change in their lives and made them "move on" with new aspirations.   

The participants

The Greek ALMA pilot project “Move On with ALMA” involved the participation of thirty (30) young vulnerable NEETs with significant results on soft and hard skills outcomes. Twenty-three (23) were young women and seven (7) young men in two (2) groups (13 people in the 1st group and 17 in the 2nd group) with different levels of vulnerability and from the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, a region of sensitive geopolitical position at the north-eastern border of Greece were reached out.

The main reasons for their participation in the Programme were multiple:

• 73 %, for the opportunity to work abroad and the familiarity with a different working environment;
• 55 % for the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills;
• 35 % for the opportunity to gain professional experience,
• 27 % for the opportunity to strengthen the profile.

The young vulnerable NEETs enrolled, came from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background, struggling with health, personal or family issues, with low self-esteem lacking confidence and a sense of belonging. They all attended initial sessions for their preparation for the mobility stage engaging them in a wide array of activities. However, the total number of participants who finally participated in mobility and moved to Berlin in Germany to be placed in a supervised job position were seventeen (17). The 1st group involved 10 people, while the 2nd group 7 people. The others who did not follow, either had to withdraw due to health problems, or found work.  

Results and impact -  evaluation of the pilot’s added value and innovation

The findings of the pilot’s external evaluation highlighted the benefits the participants received as follows:

Professional development: Gaining work experience abroad increased opportunities to enter the labour market (out of 17 participants, 7 found a job and 3 joined training programmes for further upskilling).

Personal empowerment: Adapting to a new environment developed skills of autonomy and resilience.

Social inclusion & cooperation: The ability to socialize in a multicultural environment and new acquaintances.

Acquiring communication skills in a foreign language: All participants improved their German skills for everyday use, although in some cases communicating in a foreign language was a challenge. 

Additionally, the participants benefited significantly from transnational mobility, considering the experience of living abroad to be particularly beneficial and gaining work experience in a European country. They found the experience gained from the supervised job abroad particularly useful. They built up their self-confidence and self-esteem as a result of living and gaining work experienceabroad and developed their social skills by getting to know others. They improved their job-search skills, some found work in Germany, others back in Greece and others entered a training program.

In fact, the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and competences from the supervised acquisition of professional experience in Germany, as well as the strengthening of job-search skills, were achieved, as 72% of participants said that they improved their job-search skills after participating in the Programme, together with skills to apply for and use job search channels. 64% said that their openness and self-confidence had been strengthened after staying and gaining experience abroad, and this was confirmed by the discussions with the beneficiaries during the Focus Group. The development of social skills, as members of a group working and living together in another country, was considered important by 45% of participants. Only 9% replied that the Programme did not meet its needs.

Potential for mainstreaming

Based on the Greek ALMA success pilot, the program is to be mainstreamed under ESF+ co-funding and the National Program on "Human Capital and Social Cohesion" for the period 2021-2027, in collaboration with the line Ministries, PES, NGOs and other stakeholders. The competent Managing Authority has already received well-documented proposals for rolling out the ALMA program on targeted regions throughout the country. In turn, the Greek ALMA pilot for young vulnerable NEETs has also promoted the launch of a study on mapping NEETs in the country.