Get involved and gain professional work experience in a business with Youth Pioneer

Friday 18 September 2026

Are you between 16 and 29 years old and living in or around Palermo? Are you looking for professional experience?

We are looking for 12 highly motivated young people, ready to commit to a professional training programme running from mid-October 2026 to mid-March 2027.

With YouthPioneer you will have the opportunity to enter the world of work through a work-based learning experience at a Sicilian business or organisation active in the fields of agriculture and social economy, social and educational services, social project design, craftsmanship (ceramics), administration and translation.

Among the businesses where you can carry out your professional training: APA – Accademia Psicologia Applicata, Assoidea, Centro Astalli Palermo, Centro Internazionale delle Culture Ubuntu, CESIE ETS, Ciauli AgriCoop, Confesercenti, Euromadonie Società Cooperativa, Libera Palermo, Per Esempio, Sokult APS, Studio MUD.

If your field of interest is not among the sectors and businesses taking part in the call, we will do our best to find a business in the sector you request.

What do we offer?

By joining the YouthPioneer training, you will have access to a complete, structured pathway made up of the following steps:

Assessment and matching with the right business for you: browse the list of available businesses and the activities you could be involved in.

Initial training: you will develop essential transversal skills and learn how to develop project ideas – around 50 hours from the second half of October 2026 – Palermo/remote.

3-month work placement: you will gain hands-on experience in your field of interest, supported by a workplace tutor and receiving an expenses reimbursement – around 20 hours per week from November 2026 to January 2027 – Palermo.

Entrepreneurship workshops on how to develop a business idea and pitch it to an audience – January 2027 – Palermo/remote.

Career guidance, building on the experience gained at the business – February 2027 – Palermo/remote.

A contest of business ideas developed during the workshop, with a final prize – February 2027 – Palermo.

Participation in the Job & Innovation Forum: an event to meet potential businesses and organisations and receive job offers – February 2027 – Palermo.

The project covers all the costs needed to take part in the various steps, including any local transport to reach the places where the activities will take place.

Eligibility requirements

Be between 16 and 29 years old

Not be in employment, education or training (NEET)

How to apply

Apply here by 04/10/2026.

With the online form you will need to attach:

your CV

a copy of your ID document

the following form, completed and signed in full (Annex 1) – Download the form

Declaration of Immediate Availability (DID) if you have one

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to give your future a new direction.

Apply now and start your professional growth journey with Youth Pioneer!

For further information, contact Cinzia Costa cinzia.costa@cesie.orgFor further information, contact Cinzia Costa cinzia.costa@cesie.org

About YouthPioneer

YouthPioneer – Forging pathways to labour market integration through project design, mentoring and professional experience is an ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative project that aims to promote collaboration with stakeholders to understand the aspirations of NEET youth, improve their transversal and entrepreneurial skills, and enable them to play a key role in the contemporary economy.