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 aim 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 for addressing social challenges

Prodigy represents a European-scale evolution of the methodology developed with the Dig4all project, funded in Italy by the Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale (Fund for the Digital Republic), enriched by the experience gained with the European Digi-Breaker+ project. The methodology involves a personalised educational approach, individual support and the strengthening of social networks between different actors.

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

Target audience and areas 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 programme offers six professional training courses, all delivered online with live lessons and self-study materials (asynchronous). The learning areas are divided into three levels of complexity: basic, intermediate and advanced.

The courses available are:

• Basic digital skills (20 hours): focusing on digital literacy, the use of collaborative cloud tools and essential IT security.
• Advanced digital skills (25 hours): exploring topics such as digital citizenship, data protection, managing complex online activities and the basics of artificial intelligence.
• A specific course to understand, self-assess and present your green skills in the new job market (15 hours).
• The path to becoming a Social Media Marketer (60 hours), with a focus on content creation, paid campaigns, digital strategies and data analysis.
• The Data Analyst course (60 hours), to acquire the skills necessary for data collection, interpretation and representation.
• The Sustainability Manager course (60 hours), dedicated to those who want to guide businesses and organisations in the ecological transition and the application of ESG criteria.
• The Web Design course (60 hours), which starts with HTML and CSS and progresses to the design of user-friendly and responsive interfaces.

How to participate

To apply, simply fill out the online form.

Based on the information provided, candidates will be contacted to complete the procedure and receive instructions on how to start the course.

Certification and job placement

The skills acquired are validated by ESCO and DigComp 2.2 certification, guaranteed by Roma Tre University. Passing the final online skills assessment tests entitles participants to receive both a certificate of attendance and digital badges certifying the skills acquired.

Personalised professional support from a coach will help participants define and achieve their goals and potential.

Expected results include:

• 30,000 young people reached through a Europe-wide information campaign
• 240 young people involved in signing a personalised education pact
• 120 internship contracts and 240 interviews for job placement

A sustainable and inclusive future

Prodigy aims to build a more equitable and inclusive society by promoting the personal and professional growth of NEETs, developing digital and sustainability skills.

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