This presentation refers to the contribution of Thessaloniki, one of the eleven partners, to the project entitled as "My Generation At Work" which is an URBACTII project. For more: http://urbact.eu/en/projects/active-inclusion/my-generation-at-work/homepage/ The project aims in contributing to the local youth employment and its final goal is to develop a local action plan for youth employment for each partner.

1. Dr. Peri Kourakli
European Projects and Youth Policy
Thessaloniki European Youth Capital 2014
p.kourakli@thessaloniki2014.gr

2. TRANSFORMING
YOUTH POLICY
Policy analysis, learning
network and action
development tools for
managers and projects
My Generation
11/2008-08/2011
Antwerp| Belgium, Birmingham|UK,
Gdansk|Poland, Glasgow|UK,
Gothenburg|Sweden, Patras|Greece,
Riga|Latvia, Rotterdam|Netherlands,
Valencia|Spain, Warsaw|Poland, Tirgu-
Mures|Romania
Why?

4. Kick-off workshop with
Youth Employment Stakeholders
Create hybrid spaces for organizing creative workshops &
ideas - best practices exchange
Encourage young people through information dissemination
so to create constructive - interactive dialogue
Promote internships focusing on the active involvement of
educational institutions and businesses
Networking between youth and local organizations to
promote youth entrepreneurship
Cohesion and coherence between theory and practice
Networking between urban and rural communities
Promote better networking and dissemination on
entrepreneurship through Thessaloniki- EYC 2014
Thessaloniki

5. Antwerp| Belgium
Braga| Portugal
Gdansk|Poland
Glasgow|UK
Maribor| Slovenia
Riga|Latvia
Rotterdam| Netherlands
Tampere| Finland
Torino| Italy
Thessaloniki| Greece
Valencia|Spain
Warsaw|Poland
05/2012- 10/2012
02/2013 - 04/2015
When?
Who?

6. Where?

7. Who/ Locally?

8.  Municipality of Thessaloniki
 Thessaloniki- European Youth Capital 2014
 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki- Employment and
Career Structure (AUTh)
 Alexander Technological Educational Institute of
Thessaloniki - Innovation’s & Entrepreneur’s Unit (ATEI)
 Educational Group Ksini
 Greek International Business Association (SEVE)
 Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI)
 Center for the Support of Employment and
Entrepreneurship of Women – Ergani
 Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Thessaloniki
 Association of Young Farmers of Thessaloniki
 Creativity Platform
 Individual young entrepreneurs
Who?

9. Develop a network of
different - relevant players
Busy volunteers representing
important bodies
Mistrust to the Municipality
Heavy administration
processes
Setting long term targets
during the preparation phase
Local challenges?

10. GETTING THE INNOVATION SPIRAL WORKING:
Social Innovation Pilots = GO FOR IT!
How?
The starting
point/problem/challenge
of your MGatWork project
Ideas how to solve
the challenge in
your city
GFI’s, Pilots, experiments
leading to prototypes of a
new service
Consolidating the new
service into practice
(into Local Action
Plans) Diffusing the new service
model broader
Changing the whole
concept/work culture
of the service

11. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
Survival Guide for
Youth Employment
Structure of the Guide
Looking for a position as an employee or partner
Creating something on my own
Relevant events in the city - region
Outcome
An useful tool for communicating
essential messages – bases for
mentoring

12. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
E- Survey on
Youth Entrepreneurship
Topics of the Survey
Mapping Youth Entrepreneurship in Thessaloniki
Proposals for the Local Action Plan
Methods
Cooperation with Aristotle University
Use surveymonkey for a broader sample
Forward the survey to our contacts
Outcome
A much better picture on
the Youth Entrepreneurship
based on real data

13. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
OBVIOUS
Content
OBtaining working experience through Volunteerism. Volunteers
Supporting people who are affected by the financial crisis
Methods
Make use of the social structures
(Social Grocery) of the Municipality to
train specialized young people-
Informal learning
Outcome
Support these structures
while training youngsters

14. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
CRUNCH
Content
Define and promote the creative opportunities for a youngster or
for a youth group
Methods
Monthly, we have brunch while
discussing the different financial
tools and opportunities
Outcome
Network among the creative society
Support for individuals

15. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
Business Idea Contest:
“to bizz or not to bizz”
Methods
Presentation of business ideas to experts - Consultation
Presentation to an open group - Contest
Outcome
The best ideas will be
supported my mentors
and consultants so to be
realized in a second stage

16. Thessaloniki
Go For it!!
Youth Entrepreneurship
Festival
Methods
Workshops and exhibitors with pavilions, special events, contests
Outcome
Promote and
support local youth
entrepreneurship

17. You - θ – Ark
Local Action Plan
for Youth Entrepreneurship

18. Focus and key content
Space:
located mainly in the centre of
Thessaloniki
Depth:
umbrella for activities connected
with youth or with
entrepreneurship
Time:
short-term and medium or long-
term actions

19. Key Actions (PROPOSALS)
1. Entrepreneurship Consultative Unit
2. Center of Creativity Economy
3. Twinning of all the consultation units
4. Enhancement, communication and
promotion of local initiatives
5. Observatory for Vocational Guidance

20. Lessons Learnt so far
 Strong players in the city
 The role of the municipality is crucial (bridge & umbrella)
 Cooperation & sharing are more than necessary as
Thessaloniki is not the only city with this issue.
Solutions can be found working in networks (locally- internationally)
 URBACTII is a program with innovative well-
structured tools; being wrong is not a problem,
testing and strategic planning is the key issues
 The local administration processes & bureaucracy
are often a problem (eg. gaps in the national legislation,
misinformed or narrow-minded civil servants)
 The profile of the young unemployed person

21. http://urbact.eu/en/projects/active-inclusion/my-generation-at-work/homepage/