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Approach

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The primary partners in each member state have established a local network of Partners (NGOs, Third Sector organisations etc.) who are working directly with migrant communities in their locality. These partners have been identified on the basis of the scale and breadth of their reach in these communities. It is not possible to map in detail all communities in the 3 locations comprehensively within the scope of this project (for example over 300 Languages are currently spoken in London schools). That is why each location has chosen community partners who are well connected and have associations with as many community groups and organisations as possible. This forms the basis of our ‘community listening' and also the mapping of community groups. The social partners will run events and screen potential entrepreneurs for the skills and capacity to become entrepreneurs. The screening will be supported by the EntreComp framework but also by the social partners through house meetings and internal listening where community groups self-organise. Social partners will also work closely with the University/Educator partners on transference (co-learning) of knowledge of needs and constraints into the re-purposing of training and education content and style.

 

Objectives

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• Establish systems in each city for reaching into migrant communities and screening for entrepreneurship capacity and capability

• Delivery of awareness campaigns and events through social partners and community organising: where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organisation that acts in their shared self-interest. Internal and external listening.

• Raising awareness amongst community organisations of mainstream provision

 

Intended Results

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• Awareness raised amongst at least 1000 migrants in 3 EU member states over 2 years

• Awareness raised amongst community organisations looking to support these groups

• 120 migrants connected with existing support services

• Minimum 200 programme beneficiaries identified and engaged

• Minimum 50 mentors identified and working with the project 

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The Fresh Start partners targeted first-generation migrants who moved to Europe fleeing from:

 

• war

• famine

• political turmoil

• economic hardship

• political/social oppression and / or discrimination

• the environmental degradation of their homeland

 

In particular, partners in London target migrants with:

• a socially/economically deprived background

• limited financial and cultural capital

• a high exposure to risk of economic exclusion from the labour market

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The London Pathway

 

Citizens UK with its breadth and depth of access to migrant communities in London, has organised numerous Listening Events and community meetings in South London, helping identify the right candidates for this training programme. The trust they had built over the years was essential to the success of the training programme in the UK. Migrant networks, local refugee organisations and support groups were contacted to encourage participants to apply. LSBU organised a welcome event to introduce the programme to the potential trainees and to establish trust.

 

The Limburg Pathway

 

University College Leuven Limburg (UCLL) targets highly qualified refugees to co-create a training course for entrepreneurs with an international background. UCLL used design thinking to create the Fresh Start trajectory.

 

Connecting refugees and entrepreneurs on a portal website was the first step in developing the Limburg training programme. This was followed by the creation of the advisory group composed of the representatives of the entrepreneurial agencies, refugee and migrant networks, and from the adult education agencies.  Based on the knowledge gained through the portal and advisory group, UCLL organised breakfast gatherings and co-design days. These activities had the objective of trust building between the migrant entrepreneurs and Limburg Fresh Start Programme representatives.  In addition, Fresh Start was presented in networking events, conference, and in local and national papers with the aim of reaching out to wider audiences.

 

 

The Maastricht Pathway

 

Identifying the right candidates is the key to the success of the programme. To this end, Zuyd University of the Applied Sciences approached relevant organisations that have direct contact with migrants, collaborated with the Dutch Refugee Council, numerous municipalities, the Starter’s Centre, the Centres for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, LaunchBase and MC4E Maastricht Centre for Entrepreneurship. These organisations helped select the migrant entrepreneurs who were seeking support in gaining the necessary skills and abilities.

 

Zuyd launched a broad communication campaign on its website and social media accounts. An online application form was made available on ZUYD’s public website, announced through targeted mail and local newspapers, in addition to online marketing.

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