FAMOUS aimed to develop an innovative, inclusive educational and training pathway accessible to disadvantaged or marginalised groups. The aim of the project was to directly involve these groups, known as co-designers, in developing the tools and methods. These co-designers, representative of the project's final beneficiaries, were actively involved to ensure that the solutions were tailored to their real needs. Ultimately, the project aimed to raise participants' awareness of informal skills, boost their self-esteem and promote their social and professional inclusion. Through this research-action approach, FAMOUS wanted to demonstrate that the active involvement of target groups in the design of solutions was a powerful lever for creating educational tools that would promote not only their impact but also their appropriation and sustainability.
FAMOUS was born out of an observation shared by solidarity players in France, Belgium and Romania: informal skills, which are often essential but invisible, remain little recognised among the beneficiaries and volunteers of social support structures. The partners, including Secours Populaire Français (SPF) and STEA in Romania, identified this common need and decided to address it. SPF and STEA, working directly with disadvantaged groups - SPF beneficiaries in Roubaix or members of the Roma community supported by STEA in Satu Mare - have put this observation into practice within their structures. These beneficiaries, who have become co-designers of the project, have played a central role in the development of innovative tools. By directly involving people who are far removed from training and education, FAMOUS has adopted a participatory and inclusive approach to enhance their skills, boost their self-esteem and support their social and professional inclusion.