FOOD-Y Foster youth employment and entrepreneurial skills using circular economy to find solutions to community’ food waste issues

<< Background >>During the 24-month project, six diverse partners collaborated to create a blended NFE learning program, which included micro-lessons, practical tools, and workshop outlines. The goal was to empower NEET youth to develop viable solutions for food waste issues in their communities. By using elements of circular economy, project management, and supply chain analysis, we aimed to enhance their understanding of the local food industry and reduce resource waste.The project was inspired by the lack of opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills necessary for becoming active, responsible citizens. In 2020, 17.6% of EU citizens aged 20 to 34 were classified as NEETs. Many faced a gap between their job aspirations and reality, as reliable pathways to quality employment through education and training were often insufficient.The FOODy project aimed to enhance entrepreneurial competencies in youth and motivate them to find innovative solutions to food waste. The proposed activities fostered active participation, built confidence, and improved employability skills through real-world challenges as well as provide a new insight on the issues of food waste.<< Objectives >>During the 24-month project, the consortium aimed to achieve several key objectives. We tried to enhance our understanding of the circular economy in the food sector, focusing on the food value chain and its key players in their partner countries. Sharing expertise and best practices from other youth initiatives related to food waste was also a priority, particularly concerning environmental issues and climate change.The consortium developed multilingual learning materials, including digital and interactive micro-lessons, to provide clear information about the circular economy and food waste. We created the FOODY program to help young people address food waste issues in their communities.To test the program, we engaged a select youth group and gained support from local stakeholders such as NGOs, Youth Centres and policymakers. We also aimed to empower youth to prepare and promote actionable proposals, aligning with initiatives that encourage youth entrepreneurship.The project produced two key resources: an educators' manual on the circular economy in the food sector and a program guide with digital tools for youth workers. The manual provided essential knowledge, while the program toolkit address the food waste.<< Implementation >>During the FOODY project, partners expanded their knowledge of the circular economy, focusing specifically on the food sector. We collaborated to create multilingual learning materials—like digital resources, interactive content, and micro-lessons (Available on the FOODY website: https://foody-project.eu/ ). These resources empowered young people to recognize and address food waste issues in their communities. As part of testing the program, young participants developed practical proposals to tackle the food waste challenges they identified locally. They received ongoing support from local stakeholders, including food producers, waste management experts, and policymakers, who helped them refine their ideas and connect their solutions to broader community goals in reducing food waste.<< Results >>The project aimed to deliver two main transferable results, along with six local reports on the food systems in each partner area, prepared by participants in the FOODy project. The first major result was an educators' manua (WP2) detailing the circular economy within the food sector, covering the food value chain and mapping key local actors. The second result was a comprehensive program manual (WP3), with accompanying digital content and tools, designed for educators and youth workers to use in guiding young people through projects aimed at reducing food waste in their communities. The third result was the Educator's Toolkit containing the information that educators and youth workers need to know and the competencies they need to develop to run the program.All results are available in the project website; https://foody-project.eu/Moreover, the consortium held four face-to-face meetings and 6 local pilotings to reach the project's main objectives.