COOPOWER: Strengthening Cooperative Employment Practices for Youth
COOPOWER is an international project that helps vulnerable young people from disadvantaged regions find employment and become financially independent. The project brings together organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and government representatives from eight countries: Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Romania, and Serbia. Our goal is to work with partners through research, training, pilot initiatives, and dialogue to find effective solutions for employment and building a more inclusive labor market.
Project Mission:
COOPOWER helps vulnerable young people in disadvantaged regions find their place in the labor market. Together with partners, we aim to implement initiatives that support those facing barriers such as lack of access to education or absence of support when searching for jobs.
Why it matters:
Today, thousands of young people in the Danube region are unable to secure stable jobs. They live in areas with limited opportunities and minimal support. This affects not only their future but also the development of their communities. COOPOWER was created to change this situation through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based solutions.
Project Goals:
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Collect baseline data and use existing knowledge and practices in youth employment.
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Strengthen local cooperation and activate cross-border policy dialogue.
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Provide evidence-based training to develop adaptive solutions that create more youth employment opportunities.
Project Tasks:
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Research the employment situation of young people in the eight participating countries.
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Foster cooperation between different sectors — from NGOs to government institutions.
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Develop and test practical solutions to help young people find jobs.
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Align these solutions with stakeholders and share them with policymakers in youth employment.
Key Areas of Activity:
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Research and needs analysis: We aim to thoroughly study the employment situation across countries, identify barriers preventing young people from finding jobs, and collect examples of successful practices.
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Creating local cooperation platforms: In each country, we will bring together stakeholders — from activists to local authorities — to co-create solutions and share knowledge.
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International dialogue and knowledge exchange: We plan to establish a hub for transnational dialogue — a space where experts from different countries can share experiences and influence youth employment solutions.
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Pilot projects for youth: In partner countries, we will test local initiatives based on cross-sectoral cooperation models to support young people.
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Strategy development: Based on pilot projects, we will create local and international strategies for integrating vulnerable youth into full economic life.
Expected Results:
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A joint strategy and local action plans to support youth in the labor market.
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Strengthened organizations working with youth through participation in international partnerships.
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Development and scaling of youth employment solutions.
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Ongoing cooperation between organizations even after the project ends.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
More about the project on the official website: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/coopower
