ELEVATE – Empowering Youth and Increasing Youth Employability

Erasmus+ Programme – Capacity Building in the Field of Youth – Sub-Saharan Africa

Project Duration: November 2025 – October 2027

Project No.: 101242183

About the Project

ELEVATE is an international Erasmus+ initiative designed to strengthen the capacities of youth workers and create meaningful opportunities for young people through innovative, non-formal learning. The project addresses youth employability challenges by combining skills development, empowerment, and cross-regional cooperation between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

ELEVATE promotes social inclusion, supports young people with fewer opportunities, and enhances the role of youth organizations in empowering new generations of learners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.

Overall Objective

To enhance the employability and empowerment of young people through non-formal learning methods, promoting inclusivity, building youth workers’ skills, and fostering active participation in society.

Specific Objectives

Strengthen the capacities of youth workers to deliver high-quality non-formal learning.
Enhance skills and employability of young people through targeted trainings.
Promote inclusion of youth with fewer opportunities.
Develop practical training modules, resources, and publications.
Support cooperation and knowledge exchange between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Core Training Themes

1. Entrepreneurship – Foundations of entrepreneurship, business planning, social entrepreneurship, and practical tools for creating new ventures.

2. Empowerment – Understanding empowerment, supporting youth participation, resilience building, and strengthening personal agency.

3. Personal Competencies – Emotional intelligence, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, and personal effectiveness.

Employment Perspectives Promoted by the Project

Employment Potentials in a Digital World – Exploring digital skills, emerging job opportunities, online work, and the role of technology in shaping future careers.

Green Skills – Potentials for Employment – Understanding sustainable practices, green job markets, and opportunities for youth in environmentally responsible sectors.

Key Activities

International training programmes for youth workers in: Kenya (Entrepreneurship), Uganda (Empowerment), Serbia (Personal Competencies).
Development of three comprehensive publications supporting youth employability through three joint international workshops in Italy, Austria, and Serbia on Employment Potentials in a Digital World, Green Skills – Potentials for Employment, and Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment.
Local multiplier trainings reaching young people in partner countries.
Matchmaking sessions connecting youth with potential employers.
Conferences, visibility events, and a strong dissemination strategy.
Creation of a project website, social media channels, and promotional materials.

Expected Results

Increased capacities of youth workers to deliver high-quality non-formal education.
Enhanced employability of young people through skills-based training.
Strengthened cooperation between youth organizations across continents.
Practical tools and publications for long-term use in youth work and employability programmes.
Greater inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.
A sustainable network supporting youth empowerment and development.

Project Partners

Balkan Development Center (BDC) – Serbia
Citizens Initiative for the Future (CIF) – Serbia
Austrian Association of Inclusive Society (AIS) – Austria
The HUB Sicilia Societa Cooperativa (IMPACT HUB) – Italy
Socio-Sphere Initiative (SSI) – Kenya
U-YOGA Uganda – Uganda