ESF-SI-2023-SKILLS-01-0086

LGBTI youth in Bulgaria and Lithuania face persistent discrimination and bullying in their teenage years resulting in school drop outs, low self-esteem, lack of motivation to continue post-secondary education, fear from potential harassment at the workplace, and underutilization of state-subsidized youth activation programs aiming to enhance the employability of NEETs. The partners in this project, LGL from Lithuania, Bilitis and Glas foundations from Bulgaria are leading LGBTI rights defenders in their countries and trusted support providers in their communities. They unite in developing an integrated employability model for NEETs from the LGBTI communities, which has two main pillars: strengthening young people’s employability skills and building a support network that will facilitate their first entry or re-entry into the labor market. 

Diversity Charter from Lithuania promotes diversity and inclusion at the workplace. The partners will utilize a “connecting the dots” approach to motivate LGBTI NEETs to utilize existing pathways to employment, and strengthen their technical as well as interpersonal skills, adaptability, commitment to continuous learning, resilience, and conflict-solving skills. At the same time, the partners will engage potential employers who value diversity and inclusion at the workplace and create a “bridge to employment” strategy that can be replicated in different EU contexts for other vulnerable groups of NEETs. The key innovative elements of this strategy are: 

• “Teaming up” with existing youth employment services to make them LGBTI inclusive.
• Individual empowerment of LGBTI NEETs to set and achieve personal goals related to career development.
• Ensuring on-the-job skill-building/validation options at LGBTI-inclusive companies.

Expected results:

• For LGBTI NEETs: 120 individuals will see increased employability, confidence, career orientation, and motivation, with 30 accessing internships or apprenticeships, 60 receiving state-subsidized professional training, and 30 supported in developing self-employment plans. 
• For Employers: 40 employers will benefit from access to a more diverse talent pool, improved workplace culture, and enhanced compliance with anti-discrimination and equal treatment standards. 
• Skill Validation Innovation: New skill validation opportunities will be created with active employer involvement, further enhancing job prospects for LGBTI NEETs. 

Funding: 260,582.00 Eur

The Direction Employment Model, an integrated approach initially developed to support NEETs, including LGBTI individuals, is being scaled up. This model incorporates individual career development planning, employer engagement through partnerships, skills validation practices, and the integration of online job platforms. Having demonstrated effective outreach strategies like “Ambassador Meetings” and the “Mobile Smart Classroom,” the model aimed to expand its reach and reduce youth unemployment across a wider geographic area and additional marginalized youth populations in Lithuania, Ireland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy, and Slovenia.