ESF-SI-2023-SKILLS-01-0041

WISE aims to enhance the development of digital and Data Science skills among young women and NEETs in Italy, Spain and Romania, scaling up training experiences undertaken in South of Italy by Wonderful Education and NEETs outreach, engagement and mentoring by ActionAid Italy. WISE is implemented by an innovative partnership of organizations from social innovation sector, non profit entities targeting NEETs and women and EdTech organizations from IT, ES and RO.

WISE foresees innovative training activities based on challenge-based approach, real contest analysis and data focused on sustainability and environmental topics, with practical orientation. Through blended training, green data science camps and bootcamps focusing on green economy, Data science fundamentals, Data Analysis and Visualization, coding for machine learning and artificial intelligence, WISE intends to train 230 beneficiaries in 3 the EU countries targeted. The action targets young people, especially girls, at risk of school drop-out through orientation events, online training and two Data Science camps, and young women under 29 years through Green Data Science Bootcamps part-time. The methodology is based on digital tools and solutions of real life focusing on sustainability, grounding in existing frameworks for data science and industry needs. WISE contributes to reducing the existing skill mismatch through innovative upskilling programmes and facilitating the match between labor supply and demand thanks to community development and stakeholder engagement actions. Moreover, the project foresees transversal actions (coaching, mentoring, case management, soft and life skills development), ensuring the active involvement and retention of participants, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the intervention, and fostering connections among all partners and stakeholders. 

Expected results:

• 100 young people, especially girls, at risk of school drop-out involved in trainings in Italy, Spain and Romania: 
  • work-based learning experiences with a strong impact on the professional and personal development “Green Data Science Bootcamps” for 50 NEETs. 
  • face-to-face elevator camps in Italy, Spain and Romania with all beneficiaries. 
  • face-to-face and online training for skills development, focusing on digital and Data Science competences and communication. 
  • 9 trainers trained on WISE methodology.
• Reduced unemployment rate of NEETs women between 18 and 29 years in Italy, Spain and Romania. 

Funding: 525,450.00 Eur

Social innovation scale-up 

The D4WE (Digital for Women Empowerment) project represents a scaled social innovation, with its innovative training solution designed to empower women with digital skills in STEM fields now being fully scaled up. This approach, initially piloted in the Calabria and Sicily regions of Southern Italy and utilizing a mix of theory-practical and challenge-based learning alongside coaching and mentoring, successfully equipped 100 women with data science skills, enhancing their employability and challenging traditional gender roles in the technology sector.