Foster youth employment and entrepreneurial skills using circular economy applied at the food.
FOODY EU project will promote the empowerment, participation, active citizenship and sense of initiative, using social entrepreneurship as an effective intervention to re-engage young NEET in solving issues in their communities, connected to food and its waste. The aim is to ensure they have the life skills and knowledge to foster their ability to overcome barriers to participation, employment and transition to adulthood.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around 30% of all food produced globally is lost (in the production phase) or wasted (in the retail and consumption phase). In the EU alone, an estimated 20% of food is lost or wasted with a grave impact on the global economy, society and environment. Food that is discarded at any stage of the supply chain directly causes the wastage of the energy and water resources that would have been used up in its production, harvesting and delivery to the market. By cutting down food waste, we can decrease the unnecessary stresses on our soils, water and energy sources.
The inspiration for the present project is given by the inadequate opportunities offered to young people in developing for practical skills needed to function as a citizen in a multi-agency and fast changing environment. In particular, according to the Survey HOW DO WE BUILD A STRONGER, MORE UNITED EU, EUROBAROMETER; 2019, 42% of the responders stated that climate change behaviours, critical thinking or entrepreneurship competences are not taught sufficiently in schools. On top of that, 49% of the respondents said that schools should support them in getting ready for employment, giving them a change to succeed and fostering their creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurial mind set.
For this reason, the FOODY EU project will promote the empowerment, participation, active citizenship and sense of initiative, using social entrepreneurship as an effective intervention to re-engage young NEET in solving issues in their communities, connected to food and its waste. The aim is to ensure they have the life skills and knowledge to foster their ability to overcome barriers to participation, employment and transition to adulthood.
The activities will offer a new way to build up participant’s motivation for taking action in solving common issues, increase their confidence, while enhancing employability skills using the food sector and its industry as an activator for their interest. The partners will base the activities counting on youth’s predisposition for innovation and their grasp of emerging trends, so they can start new initiatives aimed at lowering or preventing food waste in their communities.
