Real change starts with the right partners
About the project
Change happens when we Join Forces
Joining Forces is a step-by-step model that brings together municipalities and social entrepreneurs to co-create solutions for stronger, more inclusive communities.
The Joining Forces Liepāja project aims to increase youth employment by strengthening the collaboration between the social enterprise House of Hope (HoH) and Liepaja City Municipality Central Administration (LCMCA) to co-create a 12-month training program for disadvantaged youth to increase youth employability.
About the project
Why
In Latvia, many young people still face barriers to employment. As of 2022, 8.6% of people aged 15-24 were not in active employment or study - still some distance from the government’s target of 6% by 2027. In Liepaja, youth aged 15-24 comprise 9.3% of the total unemployment rate in the city, compared to the regional average of 8.3%. A 2023 survey conducted by the municipality highlighted that 28% of youth did not associate their future with living in Liepaja, with a third citing a lack of employment opportunities as a reason for this.
About the project
What
Despite shared aims to address these issues, public sector services often run in parallel with grassroots initiatives. Both sectors are eager to work together but aren’t sure how to start. In the face of increasing societal complexities and uncertainties, cross-sector cooperation in addressing joint challenges is more vital than ever. The collaboration between HoH and LCMCA in Liepāja stands out as a leading example of how such partnerships can be effectively brought to life.
About the project
How
Building on Reach for Change’s successful Kraftsamling initiative in Sweden, Joining Forces Liepāja will adapt and validate the Joining Forces approach for fostering lasting cross-sector collaboration and co-create a 12-month training program to develop the skills of disadvantaged youth.
News
Boosting Youth Employability through Cross-Sector Collaboration In Liepaja, Latvia
Reach for Change will together with House of Hope (HoH) and Liepaja City Municipality Central Administration (LCMCA) increase youth employment by strengthening the collaboration between social entrepreneurs and the municipality. Co-funded by the European Social Fund Agency’s Social Innovation Initiative, the partners of the new Joining Forces project are coming together to co-create a training program for disadvantaged youth.
Read moreJoining Forces in action, ongoing and previous success stories
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.