The current situation of crisis and unemployment is hard for different target groups. Immigrants are one of the most vulnerable groups and they face difficulties not only in the labour market, but also in social and personal life.
“Social ENTrepreneurship for IMigrants” project aims to explore and create possibilities for new employment opportunities for immigrants. Developed models and good practices adjusted to the needs of immigrants have the potential to stimulate economic growth and employment creation in the frame of social economy.
The goal is to develop models and good practices adjusted to the needs of immigrants (and also other people at risk of labour market discrimination and social exclusion) that have the potential to stimulate economic growth and employment creation in the frame of social economy. Thus we are focusing on finding new opportunities of employment to fight against situations of social disadvantage and to promote social cohesion.
Attached report is the first step of SENTIM and it offers a general overview of the state of the social economy in all partner countries: Spain, Italy, Greece and Slovenia. The study tries to point out the situation of social entrepreneurship at local level and offers a short collection of best practices in each country. The report also describes some possibilities to develop new social enterprises at local level and suggest new methods to identify opportunities for the development of projects in the frame of social economy.
The second step of SENTIM is the development of the methodology for identification of interest for entrepreneurship and competencies needed for entrepreneurship among immigrants. With the data gathered in the field (conducting interviews with immigrants and implementing pilot workshops) we have developed useful and easy to use tools that enable professionals working with immigrants to:
- explore the interest for entrepreneurship among immigrants,
- explore and define competencies needed for entrepreneurship,
- provide assistance to immigrants in discovering their strengths and competencies: those already well developed and those that need to be strengthened in order to pursue career in entrepreneurship,
- implement workshops and use the tools to further explore entrepreneurial interest and competencies of immigrants,
- implement workshops and use the tools to further explore possibilities of getting in contact with immigrants and thinking about new ways of working with immigrants interested in entrepreneurship.
Our aim is to make the tools available to individuals and organisations working with and providing support to immigrants in unemployment who show interest and potential to be active in entrepreneurship or to start their own business career in a new country. All tools with the guidelines and instructions how to use them are presented in detail in the attached documents.
Next step in SENTIM is the development of a training programme and e-learning module for professionals. The programme will equip trainers and other professionals with necessary information and useful tools to provide the support for immigrants who want to start a business own entrepreneurial career.
You are welcome to visit SENTIM website and read more about the project or contact us for additional information.
