What are the main objectives of the second phase of the project?
The beneficiaries of the project are NEET youth (not in education, employment, or training) or those at risk of becoming NEET, aged 15-29. The first objective is to support them in developing soft skills such as self-esteem, confidence, professional retraining, and psycho-emotional support, especially when the young person has physical and/or mental disabilities, whether permanent or temporary.
The second objective is to assist them in active job search, not only by helping them write their CV and assess their skills but also by preparing and guiding them towards conscious entry into the job market. This includes interview preparation, finding the most suitable job for them, accompanying them into the workplace, following up during internships, and identifying the most appropriate training opportunities.
We help them enter the workforce through initial extracurricular internships and job placements. Among the various training programs we offer, one of the most important is on workers’ rights and responsibilities, including basic topics like understanding a payslip and contractual protections, which are often not well known.
The final objective involves engaging companies that are sensitive to diversity and inclusion topics.
Are there any particular or innovative approaches used with the beneficiaries?
As La Rotonda Association, we have a strong ability to detect issues at the grassroots level because we are deeply embedded in a territory characterized by significant vulnerabilities. The fact that we offer multiple services has facilitated the identification and surfacing of employment needs.
The strong connection between services ensures that beneficiaries receive comprehensive support. This approach is combined with a highly individualized path for each beneficiary, where my colleagues dedicate many hours to listening, conducting interviews, and aiming to clearly identify needs that might otherwise remain hidden.
The project has already achieved significant results. Can you share some of them? What are the main results you expect from this second phase?
In the first phase of the project, we were able to support 160 beneficiaries aged 15-29 and engaged around 80 human resources from external companies.
The second edition of the In & Aut Festival, held in May, was a significant achievement in terms of networking and connecting with companies and organizations that have been working with neurodivergent individuals for a long time.
Another important result was our more structured work with extreme vulnerabilities, not only socio-economic but also with young people who have unrecognized disabilities. These are disabilities in every sense, as they make it harder for them to work, be productive, or even enter the job market. This “gray area” includes many young people who struggle to handle a job interview emotionally or be punctual, leading to repeated internships without progress. We are continually improving in this area, thanks to the inclusion of a diversity inclusion officer in our team.
What have been the main challenges encountered so far in implementing the project?
Many companies today are interested in diversity inclusion, and there are also many incentives for them, but we often find that this interest is more theoretical than practical. So, the first challenge is raising awareness and expanding our network with companies.
Another challenge involves engaging the beneficiaries themselves. Despite all the work we do with them, some may suddenly stop attending or responding, even if they don’t have significant disabilities or psychiatric issues.
After the pandemic, we’ve noticed a decline in the attention span and commitment of very young people, starting with punctuality. The second phase of the project places more emphasis on school-to-work orientation. We work across services, so, for example, students from the afterschool program can transition directly into employment orientation.
Are there other organizations or entities involved in the project? How is the local community engaged?
As La Rotonda Association, we work extensively in networks—we can’t have all the expertise in the world!
We collaborate with a foundation that has a major program on workers’ rights and responsibilities, contributing both to the training of beneficiaries and to the training of our staff.
Other associations handle the administrative aspects of our internships, and we also collaborate with accredited training organizations recognized by the Lombardy Region. We have several partners in our network focused on employment, each contributing support in finding job opportunities or setting up training courses.
In terms of local community involvement, as mentioned, we are deeply rooted in the territory. For example, our center is located right in the middle of the neighborhood and offers Italian language classes, meetings for the elderly, afterschool programs for children, a job center, and a migration office. The service is also a way to activate the community; for instance, the job center had volunteers who have now moved on to the Listening Center or other services.
Additionally, young people who attended the afterschool program are now volunteering to help elementary school children. We are more than happy to welcome volunteers as it helps young people develop their soft skills.
How do you envision the project evolving in the coming years?
On the one hand, we want to consolidate what is already working, but on the other, we are always ready to review and innovate.
Looking to the future, I think it’s important to enhance our training offerings. Currently, we have a tailoring course and a bicycle repair workshop that attracts afterschool youth aged 14-17, and we would like to expand it into a formal training course.
Our training programs allow us to focus more on individuality, not just technical skills but also socialization. For example, beneficiaries who work together organize outings and create a very welcoming environment. We could introduce new ideas and a more personalized approach.
Is there anything specific you would like to highlight regarding your experience within the “In & Aut” project?
Speaking as a project manager, it has been a truly positive experience. In my years of experience, I’ve worked with many donors, but what I experienced with the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai was an ongoing dialogue and collaboration with a medium-term perspective. This was truly reassuring.
In the face of difficulties, thanks to this collaboration, we feel we can address and overcome the various challenges that arise. It has been an extremely positive experience of exchange, sharing, and building a methodology that is becoming a shared asset of our association.
As an employee of La Rotonda Association, it has been both rewarding and challenging to see the growth of an area—such as the one dedicated to employment—that responded to a strong need in the territory and took care of a very vulnerable group of young people. I would say it has been a success on all fronts!