The project focused on empowering migrant women and women with non-Western backgrounds by fostering their integration into the European labour market. It aimed to equip participants with personal, transversal, and specific skills, enhancing their employability and entrepreneurship potential. Key objectives included improving competencies in adult education, promoting social entrepreneurship, and encouraging open education through innovative methodologies. Core activities supported these goals. A research report analyzed barriers and opportunities faced by migrant women in education, training, and employment. An online toolkit for trainers was developed, utilizing U-Theory and Design Thinking to guide mentoring and coaching. A 150-hour blended course mentored over 450 women, building digital, entrepreneurial, intercultural, and life skills. The project concluded with a catalogue of business plans featuring the 15 best entrepreneurial ideas. These initiatives fostered meaningful social inclusion and empowerment of migrant women, therefore resulting in the full accomplishment of the project objectives.
The project was developed to address the urgent need for the social and economic integration of migrant women and women with non-Western backgrounds into European societies, aligning with the EU's 2030 Strategy goal of achieving a 78% employment rate. Migrant women represent an underutilized source of skills and face considerable barriers, including discrimination, gender inequality, and insufficient access to education and employment opportunities. In Portugal, the situation was particularly concerning, with high female youth unemployment rates, significant gender disparities in employment among young people, and limited job vacancies. The project promoted entrepreneurship and digital competencies, as these women often lacked the life skills, intercultural abilities, and entrepreneurial knowledge necessary for full integration. Drawing from European frameworks such as EntreComp and the Digital Education Action Plan, the project empowered this group through targeted non-formal education, addressing the gaps identified in academic research and reports as barriers to their inclusion.