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Fonds social européen+
SIM case study2022-05-11

Envie Autonomie

In 2013 alone, people with disabilities spent EUR 1.4 billion on medical equipment. At the same time, a large amount of viable medical equipment is abandoned every year and goes to waste. The potential of wasted equipment is potentiated by the Envie Autonomie project, that aims to recover, recycle, and reuse old medical equipment in order to lower expenses for disabled people. At the same time, it aims to offer employment opportunities to vulnerable people by employing unemployed people in their network. The Envie Network is made up of 50 companies from a range of sectors that are committed to social inclusion. The companies collectively employ 2 500 people under the Envie Autonomie project for two years. These employees were previously either in a precarious work situation or long-term unemployed. Once hired, employees are trained in restoring medical equipment. They are responsible for finding and collecting medical equipment. They then restore and sanitise the materials, which can then be rented or purchased by anyone who needs them at a cheaper cost than new equipment. Since its pilot in 2015, the project has collected 14 000 items, distributed 2 500 items, and equipped 2 200 individuals. By training employees to fix medical equipment, the project is enabling vulnerable people who have had trouble accessing full-time and stable employment to gain marketable and specialised skills. Moreover, the project has created and continues to develop a network of maintenance technicians who can repair medical equipment.

Case study details

Lead organisation
Pays
France
Thèmes
Access to quality employment
Tackling long term unemployment
Equal access to education and training
Upskilling and reskilling
Active inclusion and employability
Integration of marginalised communities
Social integration of those at risk
Level of action
National
Source of funding
Public - national
Budget
Unknown
Programming period
N/A
Project start
2015
Type of initiative
Redesigning business models and value chains
Participants
Since its pilot in 2015, the project has hired 50 employees, collected 14,000 items, distributed 2,500 items, and equipped 2,200 individuals.
Internet and social