General: • To improve the competencies of trainers and volunteers of VET institutions and NGOs to become more qualified for teaching the disadvantaged groups (unemployed, people with learning disabilities, migrants, etc.) in upcycling/recycling; • To provide training and support to disadvantaged groups in recycling/upcycling; and • To contribute to the realization of the European Green Deal by promoting sustainable use of used materials. Specific: • To professionalize the teaching of recycling/upcycling of goods; • To enhance the skills of disadvantaged groups in recycling/upcycling; • To develop a curriculum for trainers of disadvantaged groups; • To develop a handbook for future VET teachers and volunteer trainers; • To develop a compendium of good practices on sustainable business models and inclusion practices within the field of repair/recycling/upcycling; • To engage 88 trainers in professionalizing the teaching of recycling/upcycling of furniture, clothes, and appliances. • To train at least 120 disadvantaged VET students in recycling/upcycling; and • To promote the project through a website and the production of recycled materials.
The European Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with an ambitious goal of 0 net carbon emissions by 2050, where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. The transition is to just and inclusive, where people are at the heart of the strategy. While new, sustainable jobs are being created for European citizens, the disadvantaged tend to be forgotten: the employment gap between persons with and without disabilities remains high. This is critical, as employment participation is important to ensure economic autonomy and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. A lack of initiatives equipping disadvantaged groups with the competencies to obtain green jobs exists. The partnership composed mostly of NGOs working with vulnerable groups addressed the need to professionalize the teaching of such skills, so they can be an active part of the labor market and earn a decent living. By enhancing the competencies of VET trainers and volunteers who teach recycling/upcycling, the Train Sustain project envisions equipping disadvantaged groups with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to thrive in an evolving labor market with emerging green business opportunities.