Innovative Traditions

About the project

In recent years, most European countries have experienced an increase in youth unemployment. This development was further enhanced by the economic crisis in Europe and the rest of the world. The European Commission stressed the urgent need to address the problem and encouraged the use of existing mobility programs, including the Erasmus+: Youth, to increase the employability of young people and improve their creative, cultural and innovative skills towards entrepreneurship. “In 2019, in Calabria the unemployment rate among people aged between 15 and 74 was 21% (-0.6% compared to the previous year), the ninth highest figure among the European regions.” (Daily newspaper of the South – https://www.quotidianodelsud.it/laltravoce-dellitalia/economia/occupazione/2020/04/25/eurostat-calabria-e-campania Each youth exchange has enormous potential to increase employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people. Indeed, a youth exchange can be a strong and effective tool to foster young people’s sense of initiative and entrepreneurship and have a direct impact on their future employability opportunities! This project and its main activity will focus…

Objectives

In recent years, most European countries have experienced an increase in youth unemployment. This
development was further enhanced by the economic crisis in Europe and the rest of the world. The European
Commission stressed the urgent need to address the problem and encouraged the use of existing mobility
programs, including the Erasmus+: Youth, to increase the employability of young people and improve their
creative, cultural and innovative skills towards entrepreneurship.
“In 2019, in Calabria the unemployment rate among people aged between 15 and 74 was 21% (-0.6% compared
to the previous year), the ninth highest figure among the European regions.” (Daily newspaper of the South –
https://www.quotidianodelsud.it/laltravoce-dellitalia/economia/occupazione/2020/04/25/eurostat-calabria-e-campania
Each youth exchange has enormous potential to increase employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for
young people. Indeed, a youth exchange can be a strong and effective tool to foster young people’s sense of
initiative and entrepreneurship and have a direct impact on their future employability opportunities!
This project and its main activity will focus on developing skills which can be a learning laboratory for young
entrepreneurship.
The main objective of the project is to provide young people with the necessary skills and tools to become the
engines of social change through the launch of social entrepreneurship projects based on the rediscovery of
traditions and ancient crafts.
Objectives of the project:
– Promotion of the employment and self-employment potential of young people through the strengthening of
innovative capacity, the creation of business start-ups and open innovation;
– Development of innovative models for mutual collaboration in the field of entrepreneurship;
– Raise awareness among young people about traditions and ancient crafts and how important they can be to
create innovative solutions for entrepreneurship;
– Motivate young people to undertake and use social entrepreneurship as a force for social change;
– Improving the entrepreneurial skills of young people;
– Share and explore ideas, experiences and areas of common interest in intercultural contexts;
– Understand the huge potential of Erasmus +: Youth, as a concrete tool to develop opportunities for young
people;
– Promote the Erasmus + program and identify their current resources for young entrepreneurs;
– Learn to document their skills and competences, as a way of personal and professional development (through
the Youthpass);
Working methods: different methodologies will be used during the partnership building activity, such as
workshops, presentations, exchange of experiences and informal space, described in more detail in the
appropriate sections.
The objectives of the “Innovative Traditions” project pursue the objectives of the Erasmus + program, such as
combating rising unemployment, especially among young people.

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
137
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
With the launch of the Europe 2020 strategy, in fact, the European Commission has set among its objectives the
increase in youth employment to 75%.
In Italy, as confirmed by Unioncamere, one in ten companies is under the age of 35. Starting from these
assumptions and comparing, during meetings and meetings, with other national and transnational organizations,
we felt the need to compare through the Youth Exchange tool what are our ideas to seek solutions to the problem
of youth unemployment, but also to confront ourselves with state realities where youth unemployment is
decreasing with reality where it is increasing. Certainly the youth exchange is a deterrent to youth unemployment,
capable of developing new creative ideas by turning them into work.
The objective of the “Innovative Traditions” project in this particular key action is to improve the level of key
competences and skills of young people, including young people with limited opportunities, by supporting their
involvement in the labor market, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity.
Furthermore, our project includes and contemplates the following objectives of Ersamus +, quoting from the ANG
website:
“The new Program also reconfirms the other aims of the Youth sector: the participation of young people in
democratic life in Europe and in the labor market; the learning of languages ​and linguistic diversity; the
international dimension, through cooperation with partner countries; the recognition and validation of skills and
qualifications, through Youthpass.

Activities

The venue of the Youth Exchange is Gimigliano, an Italian town of 3 217 inhabitants in the province of Catanzaro
in Calabria. Being close to the capital, this becomes easily accessible, being directly connected thanks to the
railway service of the Ferrovie della Calabria.
The flow of activities with the methodologies and objectives of each session is described in the project timetable,
which we have organically created together with our partners. Here are some key activities from the timetable
below:
– Presentation: Local Traditions in my Local Community
National groups present and explain their local traditions in their Country and in their local community and society
that are still kept alive nowadays (and some that are also lost) through a presentation with the use of creativity,
videos, powerpoint, photos, posters, objects and texts. Participants are be asked to prepare the presentations
before the YE with the help of the partner organizations and leaders. Debriefing and comparison with discussion
afterwards.
– A Sad Love Story
Workshop from SALTO Youth: Abigale A Sad Love Story (Methodology:
https://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-1891/Abigale.pdf?)
– Interviews to Local Community on Local Traditions
Participants divided into 4 mixed groups develop their concepts and edit their work with the help of the
coordinators and leaders. Each group creates a short interview on the topic of Local Traditions, and their task is
to interview citizens in Gimigliano. Participants are then equipped with cameras and phones in order to film and
take a reportage with pictures of the action and the activity. Debriefing at the end, participants share the results
with the rest of the group.
– Workshop: Learning to make soap

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
138
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
Practical workshop in which participants learn to make soap with experts on the traditional way to make
handmade soap, and how to work with the loom to create small products.
– Presentation: How to start a Small Business
Leaders introduce a presentation on How to start a Small Business to the group in plenary, making concrete
examples and explaining rules, regulations and ideas that are useful for participants for the next days and
sessions.
– Presentation: EU funds and other funds for Small Enterprises and Business
Leaders introduce a presentation on EU funds and other funds for Small Enterprises and Business to introduce to
participants, on possibilities and concrete ways to fund start-ups and newly created small business.
– Presentation: How to start your own Small Business (Guided by Cypriot Team)
Participants divided into 4 groups and start to create 4 Small Business which they need to continue in the next
sessions. In this preliminary phase, participants analyze how a Small Business is born and what are the basic
needs to start their own business (administration, ideas, possible funds, advertisement, etc.)
– Practical Workshop: How to adverise Small Business (Guided by Lithuanian Team)
Participants continue to work on their Small Business and specifically in this session they learn how to advertise
online and offline their newly created ideas, to see if they are working out.
– Picking of Chestnuts
Participants explore the local tradition of Gimigliano of picking of Chestnuts, they learn all the process and
concretely pick-up chestnuts in groups.
– Products Fair Markets
The Product Fair Market in which they advertize and sell their products and small business ideas to the rest of the
group. In turns, they rotate among their presentations and “buy” products with fake coins which are shared
equally at the beginning of the fair to each participants. At the end of the fair, the group evaluates the Fair based
on different elements, included who sold more and what Stand was the most successful.
The Youth Exchange will include in total 40 participants:
– 6 participants from each participating country, ie Romania, Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovakia and Portugal.
– 10 Italian participants, coming from our organization and from Gimigliano.
Each group is made up of 5 participants aged between 18 and 24, and 1 group leader. The Italian group also
brings 4 facilitators who will coordinate the logistics and content aspects of the activities.
Our Italian team of people involved is heterogeneous and dynamic. Overall, it has skills in various areas and the
aim of fully enhancing the territory, a purpose which is also that of our association.
Each group has a group leader who has experience and skills with the work of youth workers.
Leaders will be responsible for guiding the group and facilitating activities, coordinating participants and preparing
them best for mobility and youth exchange.

Impact

on their future employability opportunities!
This project and its main activity will focus on developing skills which can be a learning laboratory for young
entrepreneurship.
The main objective of the project is to provide young people with the necessary skills and tools to become the
engines of social change through the launch of social entrepreneurship projects based on the rediscovery of
traditions and ancient crafts.
Objectives of the project:
– Promotion of the employment and self-employment potential of young people through the strengthening of
innovative capacity, the creation of business start-ups and open innovation;
– Development of innovative models for mutual collaboration in the field of entrepreneurship;
– Raise awareness among young people about traditions and ancient crafts and how important they can be to
create innovative solutions for entrepreneurship;
– Motivate young people to undertake and use social entrepreneurship as a force for social change;
– Improving the entrepreneurial skills of young people;
– Share and explore ideas, experiences and areas of common interest in intercultural contexts;
– Understand the huge potential of Erasmus +: Youth, as a concrete tool to develop opportunities for young
people;
– Promote the Erasmus + program and identify their current resources for young entrepreneurs;
– Learn to document their skills and competences, as a way of personal and professional development (through
the Youthpass);
Working methods: different methodologies will be used during the partnership building activity, such as
workshops, presentations, exchange of experiences and informal space, described in more detail in the
appropriate sections.
The objectives of the “Innovative Traditions” project pursue the objectives of the Erasmus + program, such as
combating rising unemployment, especially among young people.

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
137
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
With the launch of the Europe 2020 strategy, in fact, the European Commission has set among its objectives the
increase in youth employment to 75%.
In Italy, as confirmed by Unioncamere, one in ten companies is under the age of 35. Starting from these
assumptions and comparing, during meetings and meetings, with other national and transnational organizations,
we felt the need to compare through the Youth Exchange tool what are our ideas to seek solutions to the problem
of youth unemployment, but also to confront ourselves with state realities where youth unemployment is
decreasing with reality where it is increasing. Certainly the youth exchange is a deterrent to youth unemployment,
capable of developing new creative ideas by turning them into work.
The objective of the “Innovative Traditions” project in this particular key action is to improve the level of key
competences and skills of young people, including young people with limited opportunities, by supporting their
involvement in the labor market, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity.
Furthermore, our project includes and contemplates the following objectives of Ersamus +, quoting from the ANG
website:
“The new Program also reconfirms the other aims of the Youth sector: the participation of young people in
democratic life in Europe and in the labor market; the learning of languages ​and linguistic diversity; the
international dimension, through cooperation with partner countries; the recognition and validation of skills and
qualifications, through Youthpass.
Activities
The venue of the Youth Exchange is Gimigliano, an Italian town of 3 217 inhabitants in the province of Catanzaro
in Calabria. Being close to the capital, this becomes easily accessible, being directly connected thanks to the
railway service of the Ferrovie della Calabria.
The flow of activities with the methodologies and objectives of each session is described in the project timetable,
which we have organically created together with our partners. Here are some key activities from the timetable
below:
– Presentation: Local Traditions in my Local Community
National groups present and explain their local traditions in their Country and in their local community and society
that are still kept alive nowadays (and some that are also lost) through a presentation with the use of creativity,
videos, powerpoint, photos, posters, objects and texts. Participants are be asked to prepare the presentations
before the YE with the help of the partner organizations and leaders. Debriefing and comparison with discussion
afterwards.
– A Sad Love Story
Workshop from SALTO Youth: Abigale A Sad Love Story (Methodology:
https://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-1891/Abigale.pdf?)
– Interviews to Local Community on Local Traditions
Participants divided into 4 mixed groups develop their concepts and edit their work with the help of the
coordinators and leaders. Each group creates a short interview on the topic of Local Traditions, and their task is
to interview citizens in Gimigliano. Participants are then equipped with cameras and phones in order to film and
take a reportage with pictures of the action and the activity. Debriefing at the end, participants share the results
with the rest of the group.
– Workshop: Learning to make soap

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
138
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
Practical workshop in which participants learn to make soap with experts on the traditional way to make
handmade soap, and how to work with the loom to create small products.
– Presentation: How to start a Small Business
Leaders introduce a presentation on How to start a Small Business to the group in plenary, making concrete
examples and explaining rules, regulations and ideas that are useful for participants for the next days and
sessions.
– Presentation: EU funds and other funds for Small Enterprises and Business
Leaders introduce a presentation on EU funds and other funds for Small Enterprises and Business to introduce to
participants, on possibilities and concrete ways to fund start-ups and newly created small business.
– Presentation: How to start your own Small Business (Guided by Cypriot Team)
Participants divided into 4 groups and start to create 4 Small Business which they need to continue in the next
sessions. In this preliminary phase, participants analyze how a Small Business is born and what are the basic
needs to start their own business (administration, ideas, possible funds, advertisement, etc.)
– Practical Workshop: How to adverise Small Business (Guided by Lithuanian Team)
Participants continue to work on their Small Business and specifically in this session they learn how to advertise
online and offline their newly created ideas, to see if they are working out.
– Picking of Chestnuts
Participants explore the local tradition of Gimigliano of picking of Chestnuts, they learn all the process and
concretely pick-up chestnuts in groups.
– Products Fair Markets
The Product Fair Market in which they advertize and sell their products and small business ideas to the rest of the
group. In turns, they rotate among their presentations and “buy” products with fake coins which are shared
equally at the beginning of the fair to each participants. At the end of the fair, the group evaluates the Fair based
on different elements, included who sold more and what Stand was the most successful.
The Youth Exchange will include in total 40 participants:
– 6 participants from each participating country, ie Romania, Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovakia and Portugal.
– 10 Italian participants, coming from our organization and from Gimigliano.
Each group is made up of 5 participants aged between 18 and 24, and 1 group leader. The Italian group also
brings 4 facilitators who will coordinate the logistics and content aspects of the activities.
Our Italian team of people involved is heterogeneous and dynamic. Overall, it has skills in various areas and the
aim of fully enhancing the territory, a purpose which is also that of our association.
Each group has a group leader who has experience and skills with the work of youth workers.
Leaders will be responsible for guiding the group and facilitating activities, coordinating participants and preparing
them best for mobility and youth exchange.
Impact
The project helps to transmit and share the skills needed in the labor market and which are essential in a
competitive environment. The project also supports cooperation and mutual enrichment in the field of non-formal
education. Under the Erasmus + program, participating organizations will inform the public about the results
achieved and share them, thus increasing the impact of the project and its sustainability.

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
139
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
The objective of the “Youth Entrepreneurship” project in this particular key action is to improve the level of key
competences and skills of young people, including young people with limited opportunities, by supporting their
involvement in the labor market, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity.
The aim of the project is to develop the following skills in particular:
• entrepreneurship;
• communication and language skills;
• social skills and creativity;
• ability to cooperate on a common problem;
• exchange of experiences and national contexts on entrepreneurship;
• exchange of experiences and national contexts on unemployment;
We intend to achieve the following impact on the participants: increase their entrepreneurial, linguistic, social and
IT skills, their motivation to succeed in the job market, increase their ability to have creative ideas and develop
them further, their ability to see the world through an entrepreneurial eye and the search for opportunities.
It is very difficult to estimate the quantity and quality of the results of a long-term youth entrepreneurship project,
but together with our partners we will look at which young people have started a business, evidence of the
characteristics of their businesses.
The partners will offer support to the young people who will participate by encouraging them to take a path
towards youth entrepreneurship and that of young people. Associations and organizations generally lack the
human, financial and social capital necessary to both start and successfully run a new business run by their
young members. Compared to older individuals, younger individuals are less likely to have previous sectoral,
managerial or business experience, but are more likely to be unemployed. Therefore, they may not have the
necessary skills to start or run their own business. As a consequence of this project the impact we are aiming for
is that both partner organizations and young participants develop these skills and are provided with these
elements listed above to overcome the difficulties associated with youth entrepreneurship. (Young people may
also have limited networks, such as contacts and support).
In summary, the impact we expect to have on all of our partners is as follows:
– increase the ability to support young people in a path of youth entrepreneurship;
– increase human capital;
– increase skills in the field of youth entrepreneurship;
– increase competences in the field of social skills and creativity;
– increase the ability to cooperate on a common problem;
– increase the exchange of experiences on entrepreneurship;
– increase its network of partners at international level and in the field of work with young people within the
European mobility programs;
In order to increase the capacity of the local and international society beyond the partners and participants of the
project, the project will be characterized by a strong approach to human development. Alongside
awareness-raising, training and consultancy activities, the project envisages the creation of research on
measuring the impact on local and international communities (specifically those of reference and origin of the
participants, upon their return at the end of the mobility).
At the end of the mobility we expect that the impact of the project will also develop on the following indirect
recipients:
– friends, families, colleagues (school, university and work) and acquaintances of the participants;

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
140
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
– new customers of the new businesses created;
– new collaborators and stakeholders of the new businesses created;
It is essential to underline that we foresee that the project will lead to the creation of new businesses set up by the
participants upon their return to their local community and in their country, this means that their return
communities will be permanently influenced on a social, innovative, economic and employability prospects from
the creation of these new businesses.
The objectives of the proposal are partly experimental and innovative, the participants will acquire through the
entrepreneurial skills they have learned a useful tool towards their communities, organizations and civil society
that will affect people’s quality of life.

Project partners

• 🇮🇹 Pro Loco Gimigliano APS
  Italy
• 🇷🇴 ASALT - Asociatia Sociala a Lucratorilor de Tineret
  Romania
• 🇸🇰 SYTEV
  Slovakia
• 🇱🇹 Tarptautinis bendradarbiavimo centras
  Lithuania
• 🇪🇸 Asociación Socio-Cultural VerdeSur Alcalá
  Spain
• 🇬🇷 Mindfulness and Wellbeing "GO Alive"
  Greece