Prodigy

Prodigy, which stands for PROmoting Digital and Green Skills for Youth, is an innovative European project for the growth and professional qualification of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs). It is funded under ESF+ Social Innovation+. The objective is to transfer and disseminate innovative solutions to address social challenges in the areas of employment, education, skills and social inclusion, improving job opportunities and civic engagement for 240 young people in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria.

A European model to address social challenges
Prodigy represents an evolution on a European scale of the methodology developed with the Dig4all project, funded in Italy by the Fund for the Digital Republic, enriched by the experience gained with the European Digi-Breaker+ project. The methodology involves a personalized educational approach, individual support and the strengthening of social networks between different actors.

The project is being carried out thanks to an international partnership that includes Fondazione L'Albero della Vita ETS (leader), Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS, Adecco Italia spa and Università degli Studi Roma Tre, together with the European partners ActionAid Hellas (Greece) and Partners Bulgaria Foundation (Bulgaria).

Target audience and territories involved
The project involves 240 young NEETs from Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria, Naples, Palermo, Thessaloniki, Blagoevgrad and Gotse Delchev. Particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable NEETs, such as Roma, migrants and young people with disabilities, regardless of their level of education.

A tailor-made training offer
The training courses, updated to meet local needs and the demands of the sustainable job market, are available in Italian, Greek and Bulgarian. The training offer includes:

• Basic and advanced digital skills
• Social media marketing
• Website design
• Data analysis
• Enhancing green skills in the job market
• Sustainability management

Certification and job placement
The skills acquired are validated with the Esco certification, guaranteed by Roma Tre University. The project also includes training internships, individual coaching and corporate networking activities, promoting the job placement of the participants.

Among the expected results:

• 30,000 young people sensitized thanks to a Europe-wide information campaign
• 240 young people involved by signing a personalized educational agreement
• 120 internship contracts and 240 job interviews

A sustainable and inclusive future

Prodigy aims to build a more equitable and inclusive society, promoting the personal and professional growth of young NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) by developing digital and sustainability skills.

For more information, please contact Annaleda Mazzucato, project manager for Fondazione Mondo Digitale, at a.mazzucato@mondodigitale.org.