Central Baltic Project Database - Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Young female Baltic Entrepreneurs creating the future to gain practical experience of running their own business

marika.bogel-leino — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:31:10 +0000

The main result in the project was developing the participants – young females - entrepreneurial capacity, mindset and skills. For many participants, the project was a start into the world of entrepreneurs and an eye-opener for the help they can get to take the next step in their career. Several participants continue to develop themselves after the project via other training and support systems to develop their business ideas and leadership skills.

Project created opportunities for young female entrepreneurs to gain practical experience of running their own business. During three interactive training cycles 50 international student companies were created, some of which actually got a product or service to the market. In addition, project encouraged the participants to see that they have grown as entrepreneurs and leaders and to see that they can use their entrepreneurial skills in other contexts now and in the future.

For project partners from Sweden, Estonia and Latvia, the project deepened the knowledge of what the process of business start-ups and relevant support systems look like in three participating countries.

For the participants, the international value was a part of the learning. Participants gained perspective on their own entrepreneurship by reflecting it in an international perspective. Many participants described working together in international teams and learning effective communication as both a challenge but also one of the best things about the project. As female leaders and entrepreneurs, the participants of the project are better equipped for future assignments.

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

SME and entrepreneurship

Category:

Joint student company

At a glance text:

young females got tools and mindset for entrepreneurship
three training cycles resulted in 50 international student companies
partners in Sweden, Estonia and Latvia got international perspective about start-ups and relevant support systems

Project link:

Young female Baltic Entrepreneurs creating the future

GirlPower developed and piloted entrepreneurship study module for youth

marika.bogel-leino — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:14:02 +0000

Project developed and piloted entrepreneurship study module which can be used by partner and other organisations for organising entrepreneurship training for youth. Project materials were translated into Latvian and Estonian. Both project partners intend to incorporate the Study module into their regular teaching activities. In addition, ICT platform was developed and guidelines for using the platform prepared to provide online support for young people interested in entrepreneurship. The ICT platform gave an opportunity to find a mentor from another country and get support based on international experience, as well as communicate with participants from another country and discuss with her the possibilities of a common business in future.

During the project implementation, 20 cross-border student companies pitched their business ideas during two hackathons organised by the project. Student companies brought together girls from Latvia and Estonia and went through a simulated process of business start-up and development starting from a business idea and ending with an activity plan.

Cross-border added value of the project is emphasized by the fact that girls from Latvia and Estonia had the opportunity to get acquainted with the trends, characteristics and specific examples of women's entrepreneurship in the neighboring country. Target group also had a great opportunity to communicate with their peers from Latvia and Estonia, get to know their culture and mentality, understand their problems, and find ways to solve them together.

Tags:

education and training

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Category:

Joint student company

At a glance text:

entrepreneurship study module and online support ICT platform for youth in Latvia and Estonia were developed
20 cross-border student companies established by girls had two hackathons
girls had the possibility to get familiar of women's entrepreneurship in the neighboring country

Project link:

Girl Power – fine-tuned entrepreneurial education for girls aged 15-18 years in Latvia and Estonia

MOL promoted social inclusion of visually impaired young people

Ari Brozinski — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:10:19 +0000

MOL project promoted the social inclusion of the visually impaired young people aged 18-25 in both Finland and Estonia. This project focused on increasing independence and empowerment of the target group in both countries by promoting their potential to study, work and live independently.

The project developed a new model for rehabilitation and services for the target group. Basis for the new model was created through pilots which were implemented for the target groups with a strong support from peers. The project involved 14 visually impaired young people to their workshops. During the workshops peer support and encouragement from peers was one of the most valued elements of the workshops. Participation in the workshops had a positive impact on young people behaviour and self-impression. They clearly got empowered and felt more confident to take part in new tasks.

The project experiences including the model for rehabilitation and services for the visually impaired young people is collected in guidebooks – “Näkövammaiset nuoret aktiivisina toimijoina” and “Minu enda elu”. The guides offer support and concrete advice for the visually impaired young people themselves, but also to those people that are part of their lives, for example parents, teachers or rehabilitation workers.

Näkövammaiset nuoret aktiivisina toimijoina: https://www.nkl.fi/fi/esitteet-ja-oppaat
Minu enda elu: https://pimedateliit.ee/projekt-minu-enda-elu/

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Attachment:

Näkövammaiset nuoret aktiivisina toimijoina

Juhendmaterjal nägemispuudega noortele ja hiljuti nägemise kaotanutele

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

New model for rehabilitation and services for visually impaired young people
Workshops
Experience and models published in a guidebook

Project link:

MOL - My Own Life. Promoting the Inclusion and Independence of Visually Impaired 18-25 Year Old Young People

ActiveMoms developed a holistic model for social inclusion

Ari Brozinski — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 10:10:21 +0000

As its main result, project ActiveMoms developed a holistic model for social inclusion of women who stay at home with their pre-school-age children, do not participate in labour market and belong to Latvia’s and Estonia’s largest ethnic minorities. The model aims to support the social integration of target group through employment, entrepreneurship, volunteering and networking and can be used by other organisations supporting similar target groups. All methods used in the model were piloted with the target group.

ActiveMoms also developed an ICT platform which made it possible to find a mentor from another country and get support based on international experience, as well as communicate with a mother from another country and discuss with her the possibilities of a common business. Volunteer opportunities in in both countries were also provided and used by mothers.

Active Moms was a good example of a project where joint activities were implemented for target groups from different countries. Thereby, the cross-border effect was achieved in a very practical way. Project participants (young mothers) were able to compare their situation and possible solutions for social and labour market integration with people in similar situation in neighbouring country. Participation in the cross-border events provided the target group from Latvia and Estonia an opportunity to get to know stakeholders and entrepreneurs from both countries, to learn about the various possibilities for entering the labour market after a significant break, including through starting their own business.

Finally, the cross-border approach allowed the target group representatives to better understand each others’ mentality, differences and similarities and build personal relationships. This has a positive impact on the social inclusion and labour market entry of moms in both countries and contributes to the well-being of their families in the Programme area.

The Holistic model for social inclusion of target group representatives through employment, entrepreneurship, volunteering and networking:
https://www.llu.lv/sites/default/files/files/projects/Model%20for%20Social%20Inclusion%20TGRs.pdf

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Community integration and common identity

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

A holistic model for social inclusion of women who stay home with their pre-school-age children
Support through employment, entrepreneurship, volunteering and networking
Mothers compared their situations and got peer support across borders

Project link:

ActiveMoms – social inclusion of women staying at home with their pre-school-age children through employment, entrepreneurship, networking and volunteering in Latvia and Estonia

WoHealth increased standard of health for immigrant mothers

Ari Brozinski — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 08:09:50 +0000

WoHealth increased immigrant mother’s opportunity to reach satisfactory standard of health and wellbeing and thereby supported their integration in unfamiliar culture.

The project developed an education model for peer support of immigrant women who are pregnant or have small children. Women who have lived in the country for a longer time and gained knowledge and understanding of the local culture and service system; were educated to volunteer as peer supporters. The aim of peer supporters is to motivate and support other immigrant women to maintain their health and well-being and to find out new ways to take care their children’s health and well-being. Peer supporter guide in easy language was developed to increase capacity of volunteers.

The project supported collaboration between immigrant clients and professionals in health care, especially children and maternity clinics. Some immigrant women received peer support during their appointments in maternity and child health clinics. In total, 28 leaflets in easy language were prepared in order to improve information about health. The leaflets cover most important topics concerning motherhood, parenthood and childcare, and are available online in printable format.

All materials in Finnish and Swedish: https://www.tuas.fi/en/research-and-development/projects/empowering-immigrant-women-supporting-their-and-th/

Tags:

health and social services

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Community integration and common identity

Attachment:

Imetys

Imuote ja imetysasennot

Kivunlievitys

Lapsen motorinen kehitys 1-3-vuotiaana

Lapsen motorinen kehitys 3-5-vuotiaana

Lapsen motorinen kehitys 5-7-vuotiaana

lapsen_motorinen_kehitys_syntymasta_1_vuotiaaksi.pdf

Lapsen rokottaminen

Lapsen terveellinen ruokavalio

Lapsen_turvallisuus_0-3 kk

Lapsen_turvallisuus_3-6 kk

Lapsen_turvallisuus_6-12 kk

Lapset ja media

Lastenneuvolan palvelut Kaarinassa

Maastamuutto ja hyvinvointi

Perhekeskus sekä Kaarinan lapsiperheiden palvelut

Raskauden_ongelmia

Raskaus

Stressi

Synnytyksen alkaminen

Synnytyksen auttaminen

Uni

Äitiysneuvolan palvelut Kaarinassa

WoHealth-opas_tukihenkilöille

Amning

Barn och medier

Barnets motoriska utveckling 1-3 år

Barnets motoriska utveckling från födseln till 1 års ålder

Barnets motoriska utveckling i 3-5 års ålder

Barnets motoriska utveckling i 5-7 års ålder

Barnets skötsel

Barnets säkerhet och trygghet när det är 0-3 månader

Barnets säkerhet och trygghet när det är 3–6 månader

Barnets säkerhet och trygghet vid 6-12 månaders ålder

Efter förlossningen

Ett barn ska äta hälsosamt

Friska tänder

Förlossningen kan behöva hjälp att komma i gång

Migration och psykosocial hälsa

Problem under graviditeten

Smärtlindring

Stress

Suggrepp och amningsställningar

Sömn

Vaccinationer

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

An education model for peer support of immigrant women who are pregnant or have small children
A collaboration between immigrant clients and professionals in health care.

Project link:

Empowering immigrant women in supporting their and their families' health and wellbeing

MAMYFU activated young people to strengthen their capacity for a better future

Ari Brozinski — Wed, 11 May 2022 09:43:49 +0000

MAMYFU activated young people living in disadvantaged communities and promoted their individual creative skills to strengthen their capacity for a better future for themselves and their communities. Several young participants from marginalized or risky life situations were able to enhance their self-esteem, future orientation, and skills via project activities.

The project organised three intensive one-week courses where different methods were used to empower young people and improve their entrepreneurial skills. In Finland: Making my future - photovoice; in Latvia Future Post-corona - drama and improvisation; in Estonia: My Future, my planet - educational gamification were used to support young people’s skills development in a proactive way. Intensive courses brought together young participants and project staff to work together in a collaborative way, to learn with each other, from each other and about each other. In between the intensive courses, creative online workshops were organized to orientate to the intensive weeks´ themes and to keep up participants engagement. The courses were evaluated in feedback forms, discussions and via deeper group interviews.

Project participants were engaged in small local projects. Through that, youth became more visible, gained local recognition and empowerment. In Finland the participants produced and organized a photo exhibition, in Latvia a public culture event at the local town square, and in Estonia they created educational learning games.

Creative art- and action-based activities and methods that were used and tested in this project have been found effective and engaging for project´s target group and objectives. All methods are cost-effective and grassroot-oriented and can be renewed and repeated later on. The material was produced together with the young participants as texts, blogs, videos and photo collages and published on project’s virtual platform: https://projects.tuni.fi/mamyfu/

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

Cost-effective and grassroot-oriented methods that can easily be repeated
Activation young people to strengthen their capacity for a better future for themselves and their communities.

Project link:

Making my future - Enhancing lives of young people

RETHINK improved social inclusion of young people

Ari Brozinski — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:54:04 +0000

RETHINK improved social inclusion of young adults aged between 18-30, who had a history of mental illness. The project goals were realised through a holistic and innovative training and support programme which was developed by project partners from the Linköping and Zemgale regions.

The basis for the inclusion programme was created by training the mentors for the target group to support them during the RETHINK programme. In Sweden mentors were volunteers, whereas in Latvia they were professionals from the field of social and health care.

The content of the training and support programme was designed to enable tailormade solutions and paths based on individual needs of the participant. For example, participants were provided with activities which improved their daily routines, pathways to work and communication skills to help them navigate back to the society.

Altogether, around 20 mentors were trained and 40 young people from the target group participated in the RETHINK programme.

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Attachment:

Final evaluation report

Training programme

Training programme diagram

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

Holistic and innovative approach to support young adults with history of mental illness
Tailormade solutions for real life
20 mentors and 40 participants

Project link:

RETHINK

The CoMe Strong project activated older men in a risk of social exclusion

kersti — Mon, 17 May 2021 09:07:06 +0000

The CoMe Strong project aimed at activating inactive men aged 45-75 who were in a risk of social exclusion due to unemployment, loneliness and lack of family and friends. Partners from Turku and Tartu initiated a new model to activate the men by establishing Come Strong clubs which were places for men to gather and plan meaningful activities they wished to implement. The model was later presented for the social and health care professionals.

In concrete, 10 men’s club were established during the project and about 100 men took part to the club meetings frequently. The self-esteem of the men got better during the project, as they found new friends and learnt new things. Thanks to the clubs, the men had something meaningful to do. This also gave them a feeling that they are important community members.

An important aspect in the activities organised in the clubs was that activities were planned by the men and raised from their own interests. Having a significant role in planning and implementing club activities was important, as it gave confidence for the men who had not been in a such role before in their lives. Furthermore, the most active men were trained to take responsibility on running the clubs by themselves. This ensured that the clubs keep active still after the project end.

In addition, some community projects were carried out, and these activities were planned and often also filmed by the men themselves. The community projects varied from organising different events such as Christmas party in the neighbourhood to taking the elderly for a walk. After carrying out the community projects, some men also continued voluntary work in the elderly houses, which has made the men feel very important.

Project website: https://comestrong.turkuamk.fi/fi/

Info video in Finnish
Info video in Estonian

Experience between Come Strong clubs were exchanged during the Summer Days when the men from Finland and Estonia travelled to meet each other. For many men this was their first trip abroad.

Tags:

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Community integration and common identity

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

CoMe Strong project activated inactive men aged 45-75 who were in a risk of social exclusion due to unemployment, loneliness and lack of family and friends.
Project esablished places for men to gather and plan meaningful activities they wished to implement.
The self-esteem of the men got better during the project, as they found new friends and learnt new things.

Project link:

Connecting Men and Stronger Local Communities

Much more contributed to social inclusion of the middle-aged men with addiction problems in their past

kersti — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:31:27 +0000

The Much more project contributed to better social inclusion of the middle-aged men who have had addiction problems in their past. The project objective was to provide social support for men and thus empower them to reunite with their families and the society. Over 120 men were reached through peer-group activities in Sweden, Latvia and Finland.

The project partners from Gävle, Riga and Turku developed and tested an intervention model on how to involve target group men in planning and taking part in peer group activities. Based on the peer-group participants’ interest, the men tried different things from art therapy, cooking, hiking, and peer-group discussions in non-judgemental atmosphere. The methods used in different cities varied, but they all focused on participatory and easily accessible peer-group activities. Over half of the men kept coming back to the meetings and found them beneficial to them, so the project goals were reached.

Furthermore, the project also contributed to the capacity of health and social care professionals working with the target group that is difficult to reach. The partners organised several trainings for professionals who wish to try new methods to work with their clients. In total, over 50 professionals were reached in the project trainings.

The project compiled their most relevant learnings from trainings as a toolbox to be further utilised by other professionals. In addition, pros and cons of different participatory methods tested in the peer-groups were presented in the SWOT analysis.

Project website: projectmuchmore.weebly.com

Project video

Tags:

health and social services

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

The project objective was to provide social support for men and thus empower them to reunite with their families and the society.
Over 120 men were reached through peer-group activities in Sweden, Latvia and Finland.

Project link:

Skills for social and working life for the middle-aged men with past addiction problems

DSB strenghtened social inclusion of people with deviant sexual behaviour

kersti — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:20:48 +0000

The main objective of the project was to strengthen social inclusion of people with deviant sexual behaviour (DSB).

During the implementation, the project offered counselling services both for people with deviant sexual behaviour and their closed ones. Altogether 873 people got counselling whether though online or phone call services which were provided by partner organisations.

Project also organised training for professionals who are working with people with DSB. Totally, 292 professionals with different backgrounds (social and youth workers, psychiatrists, psychologist, police and probation workers, child protection specialists, sexual health counsellors etc.) participated in the trainings. Trainings focused on how to provide adequate and relevant counselling to DSB. Training themes included for example topics like sexuality in general, different types of DSB, main associated problems and common intervention, as well as therapy methods; how to detect possible DSB among clients and how to approach the person; how to establish trusting relationship with DSB etc.

Amongst the other activities, the project also implemented a media campaign to raise knowledge about DSB. The campaign´s main purpose was to inform the target group about counselling services and channels where they can get help and advice.

Through these activities, the project aimed on decreasing of social exclusion of DSB and increasing the inclusion of DSB into the labour market.

Tags:

health and social services

Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Category:

Improved community

At a glance text:

The project offered counselling services both for people with deviant sexual behaviour and their closed ones.
Altogether 873 people got counselling whether though online or phone call services which were provided by partner organisations.
Project also organised training for professionals who are working with people with DSB.

Project link:

Social inclusion of people with problematic sexual behaviour

Central Baltic Project Database - Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Young female Baltic Entrepreneurs creating the future to gain practical experience of running their own business

GirlPower developed and piloted entrepreneurship study module for youth

MOL promoted social inclusion of visually impaired young people

ActiveMoms developed a holistic model for social inclusion

WoHealth increased standard of health for immigrant mothers

MAMYFU activated young people to strengthen their capacity for a better future

​RETHINK improved social inclusion of young people

The CoMe Strong project activated older men in a risk of social exclusion

Much more contributed to social inclusion of the middle-aged men with addiction problems in their past

DSB strenghtened social inclusion of people with deviant sexual behaviour

RETHINK improved social inclusion of young people