There has been a significant influx of refugees across Europe especially since 2015. Once past the initial stages of attending national language training, the main task is to secure the new arrivals into employment. Whatever the national approach, there comes a point,two or three years after arrival, when refugees cease to attract so much special support. At this stage, many still do not have adequate national language skills to be able to easily enter the mainstream labour market and there are often other challenges such as the lack of recognition of qualifications and experience. Therefore, the unemployment rate of refugees is markedly high compared to other segments of society.
The aim of this project is to raise awareness about the ways in which you can set up a business in the partner countries especially in the differences. We recognise that a significant minority of the refugees already have experience of running their own business and to help them to set up their own business in the host country by providing a training that takes account both of the specific national requirements for running your own business and the general principles of setting up and running a small business. Where participants already have experience of running a business, this experience will be used as a valuable contribution to the course. Research (eg Betts,Oxford) supports the conclusion that the level of entrepreneurship is higher in the refugee population than in the general population and therefore this project supports an existing tendency. However, cultural differences will play an important part. For example, it is not acceptable in the early stages of a business in the EU, to fail to report zero VAT liabilities. Someone who is used to a laxer regulatory regime may be shocked to find themselves paying a fine for non-reporting of VAT even when they have had no VAT-able transactions yet. A set of materials that anticipates such gaps in knowledge and experience could help to smooth the path to self-employment in a new context.
Video: From war in Syria to pastries in Tallinn
Video: EU Skills Profile Tool for refugees and immigrants from non-EU countries
Basic project information
- Programme – Erasmus+
- Key Action – KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
- Action Type – KA204 – Strategic Partnerships for adult education
- Call Year – 2018, Round 1
- Start of Project – 01/10/2018
- End of Project – 30/09/2020
- Project Duration (months) – 24
- Grant Agreement No. – 2018-1-NO01-KA204-038824
- Project Title – 9 Conversations: Network building for self-employment of refugees
- Project Acronym – 9 Conversations