COPE is complementary with E2MP project developed by the same consortium. While E2MP trains the youth managers, COPE will train directly the youth, both projects target directly or indirectly young people with fewer opportunities.
COPE’s rationale is focused on two top key elements of the EU policies: social inclusion and unemployment among youth with fewer opportunities (YPFWO).
According to Eurostat statistics, it shows that the unemployment rate among European young people (21%) is twice bigger than adult’s (9%).
At the same time, according to the Commissioner Navracsics “the transition from education into the labour market has become more difficult (…) Young people need the opportunity to develop the skills and competences which help them to find their place in the labour market and in society as a whole” (Empowering young people to participate in society European good practice projects, Erasmus+ and Youth in action programmes, 2015, ec.europa.eu/youth/events/documents/youthweek_brochure_en.pdf.
A Study Report on Mobility says “the employability of the young people can be facilitated and promoted through Educational and Vocational Guidance and Counselling (…) and Mobility programmes and actions” (Youth Employability – a Study Report on Mobility, revised version, September 2010). These three are the pylons COPE’s strategy is built on as well.
Although the mobility benefits have been demonstrated through real successful examples and statistics, but the YPWFO participation in mobility project is not very high and COPE aims to analyse the reasons behind and increase their involvement.
Thus, the objectives of COPE’s project are:
- To connect young people in Europe with the aim at increasing social inclusion, promoting EU values, diversity acceptance and inter-cultural and social dialogue. COPE encourages the youth to support their peers in need thought voluntarism and learning exchanges.
• Fight against long-term work/training inactivity as it is one of the suicide/depression/mental health causes and provide solutions;
• Increase YPWFO basic skills through simplified training and peer learning;
• Connect YPWFO with job centres and inform them about European job support and initiatives. - Make Erasmus+ accessible to everyone and motivate YPWFO to take part in a mobility project with the aim at:
• Increasing YPWFO employability and social skills; - Decrease young people fears related to mobility through guidance.
During the next partners meeting which will be hold in Palermo at the beginning of November 2016, the partners will present the results of the first Intellectual Output of the project: the COPE Training kit.
Its aim is to “fight against long-term work/training inactivity”. The kit also aims to increase YPWFO basic soft skills and employability skills, transferable in any work place.
COPE brings together five organisations with complementary experience and expertise representing Wales (CCW), Poland (EFM), France (ADICE and Sophie Delebarre Conseil) and Italy (CESIE).
The project lasts 2 years, is coordinated by Consultancy Careers Workplace (Wales) and co-funded by Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership in the field of youth.
If you are interested in the activities of COPE’s project, do not hesitate to contact: youth@cesie.org
