Encouraging integration for newly arrived immigrant women through entrepreneurship Erasmus Project

Project Title

Encouraging integration for newly arrived immigrant women through entrepreneurship

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Integration of refugees; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

48% of women who arrived in European countries in 2014/2015 are unemployed 3 years after arrival (Eurostat). Employment Services in European countries also show particular difficulties in the employment of refugee/immigrant women. The rate for so-called low educated among unemployed women is above 90%. Those in this category who find employment are mostly subsidized by the government. In Scandinavian countries, the share of immigrant women in the total female population aged 15-64 ranges 6 – 22 percent (OECD state). At the same time, the average unemployment rate for European countries is 7.9% (December 2018). OECD findings show that the average level of employment of migrant women for the European countries is 50%, for Scandinavian countries the level is a little higher (55%), but still, it is the area, which needs consideration. Moreover, a particular group of refugee women tends to be more disadvantaged comparing to non-EU migrant women in general. The issues for refugee women, which may complicate the process of employment, can include low skills/qualifications, cultural characteristics, level of education, role in the family, late or none start of integration (language learning, social integration), living in closed residential areas. As a result of such difficulties, they need longer time into the way to labor market (5-9 years after arrival, OECD). There is a clear need for a solution of immigrant women unemployment, and this can be done by developing entrepreneurial skills and stimulating women to start their own enterprise.

The main aims of the WeCan project are to facilitate the integration of immigrant refugee women both socially and in the labor market; to create learning opportunities in adult education tailored for the needs of low-skilled immigrant women in the field of entrepreneurship, to encourage refugee/immigrant women to start their own business.
The project will do this with the following objectives:
*creating networks between women and business/start-up agencies,
*providing informal training for women in the field of entrepreneurship and the development of a strategy of support for women business ideas elaboration,
*providing validation of skills acquired through informal training,
*supporting the development of key competencies and progress towards higher qualifications for the women.

Participants of the project activities (networking, pilot training) are 20 immigrant/refugee women from each partner countries (including low-skilled, newly arrived, with special needs). Representatives of business agencies are also going to participate in the project as part of networking activities, support development of training curriculum, train women during the pilot training, elaborate guidance on support strategy for women entrepreneurship. The project partners will also actively involve stakeholder organizations, such as women and/or immigrant NGOs, organizations that support and work with employment of immigrant/refugee women (PES, not-for-profit organizations, public organizations), business consultancies, start-up agencies, entrepreneurship centers, VET, adult education institutions especially which have courses of entrepreneurship, independent/private entrepreneurship training centers.

The activities of the WeCan project will include:
– Connecting immigrant/refugee women with business counselors (IO1)
– WeCan training curriculum (IO2), including the elaboration of learning curriculum tailored for the needs of the women and pilot training led by professional business counselors
– Elaboration of Guidance for professionals working with low skilled women with entrepreneurial ideas (IO3), selection of women with feasible entrepreneurial ideas, development of individual entrepreneurial path and business plan together with the mentor (professional business consultant), description of the best support strategies in one guidance document.

The expected results of the project are 120 women trained in entrepreneurship, who have increased their skills and ready to create own enterprise, created opportunities of adult education for low-skilled refugee/immigrant women (curriculum, support strategy), elaborated business plans by women and start of their own business, effective integration into the hosting society.

The results of the project and its activities are expected to have a significant impact in local, national and European levels by providing new adult learning opportunity for low skilled women, help to widen the learning programs suggested by adult education institutions, will stimulate creation of new businesses in the society (which will improve economy and create more working places), support integration of the women, creation of their own income. The products of the WeCan project (description of formed networks, learning curriculum, guidance) will be available for use by business consultancies and employment services, which will facilitate their work with immigrant/refugee women.

Project Website

http://wecan.projectlibrary.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 244463 Eur

Project Coordinator

STIFTELSEN KURSVERKSAMHETEN VID U-AUNIVERSITET & Country: SE

Project Partners

• RINOVA LIMITED
• DIMITRA EDUCATION & CONSULTING SA
• M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED
• Vinnitsia Institute of Trade and Economics KNUTE
• VAN DE WINKEL CONSULTANCY BV