ArtiYOUth is an Erasmus+ cooperation-based partnership in the field of youth, which was implemented between 2023 and 2025 with six partner institutions from different countries: Poland, Finland, Spain, the Republic of North Macedonia, Greece, and Romania.
The project focused on offering opportunities and creating results that helped boost the target group’s knowledge and taught them how to become entrepreneurs.
ArtiYOUth was built upon the following needs: the low employability of disadvantaged youth and the need for entrepreneurial education to address this issue. Artisanship was identified as a domain accessible to disadvantaged people, as it did not require high financial investment.
The main target group of the project consisted of young people aged 15–29, mainly those who had lived or were living in foster care systems, young Ukrainian refugees who had been living in the partner countries since the outbreak of the war and had faced challenges integrating into formal education systems or had graduated but could not find employment in their host countries, as well as young people with disabilities capable of carrying out manual activities (e.g., individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, or hearing impairments).
These groups needed opportunities to learn new things, develop their skills, and improve their social inclusion and employability. The partner institutions chose artisanship and entrepreneurship because they were recognised as effective means of addressing these needs and were aligned with the project’s aims.
The secondary target group of the project included youth workers and education providers (such as non-formal educators, training providers, business consultants, special education providers, social workers, and inclusion experts) who worked with the disadvantaged groups mentioned above, empowering them to provide educational opportunities for their youth.
The objectives of the project were to enhance the employability of disadvantaged young people by offering courses and workshops through which they developed entrepreneurial and artisanship skills. Another objective was to increase the capacity of youth workers and education providers who worked with disadvantaged young people.
Project results included:
Online courses for developing entrepreneurial mindsets, attitudes, and skills. Here you can create an account and get automatic access to the courses.
24 video tutorials on various artisanship areas (such as candle making, pottery, soap making, jewelry making, embroidery, etc.) & A video highlighting the benefits of artisanship for emotional well-being and stress management. Access the videos here.
Guidelines for youth workers to support youth entrepreneurship through non-formal education, providing practical tools and an overview of the ArtiYOUth course. You can access the Guidelines in the following languages: English, Romanian, Greek, Spanish, Macedonian, Ukrainian, Finnish, and Polish.
Coordinator: Asociatia Bridge Language Study House, Romania (https://blsh.ro)
Partners:
Centrum Edukacyjne EST, Poland (https://est.edu.pl/)
Pirkanmaan muotoloiu- ja taideteollisuusyhdistys Modus ry, Finland (https://www.modus.fi/)
International Innovation from the South SL, Spain (https://www.innosouth.com/en/)
Foundation Sizigija Skopje, The Republic of North Macedonia (https://new.fondacijasizigija.org.mk/ )
Mathemagenesis Idiotiki Kafalaiouchiki Etaireia, Greece (https://mathemagenesis.com/)
Website and project results: https://best4artisans.eu/