Orientation Activities to support the Access of Vulnerable Women into the Labor Market

<< Background >>Orient2Work was conceived to address a shared European challenge: the persistent exclusion of vulnerable women from the labour market due to intersecting barriers such as disability, migration background, low education, family responsibilities and long-term unemployment. Partners observed that existing guidance services in Italy, Spain, France and Türkiye were often fragmented, short-term and not adapted to women’s real needs.The project responded to this gap by designing an inclusive, competence-based and person-centred orientation model, accessible also to low-literacy users and adaptable to diverse socio-cultural contexts.During implementation, this need was further confirmed by the results of transnational workshops and the piloting phase, which highlighted structural obstacles (limited training access, discrimination, childcare constraints) and the importance of strengthening transversal skills, self-confidence and personalised support.The project therefore aimed to empower women through a structured three-phase pathway and to improve the capacity of professionals and organisations to deliver effective, sustainable and gender-sensitive orientation services.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to design, test and validate a coherent and inclusive orientation model supporting vulnerable women in accessing the labour market. Its core objectives were to strengthen women’s self-awareness, motivation and confidence; identify and valorise both formal and informal skills; define realistic professional goals; and reinforce essential transversal competences such as communication, problem-solving and adaptability.The project also sought to provide adult-education and career-guidance professionals with practical, replicable tools, fostering a shared methodological approach across countries.By implementing the model in Italy, Spain, France and Türkiye, the partnership intended to demonstrate its transferability and adaptability, promote structured peer learning, and build a European framework for inclusive orientation.Ultimately, the goal was to improve employability, autonomy and participation of women facing multiple barriers, while strengthening the capacity of organisations to deliver sustainable, user-centred guidance pathways.<< Implementation >>The project was carried out through a coherent sequence of transnational and local activities designed to co-create, test and validate a shared orientation model. Partners organised a Kick-Off Meeting in Italy, followed by three online workshops and two Learning/Training Activities in Seville and Paris, which shaped the methodological framework and the set of tools later included in the Orient2Work Handbook.Each organisation implemented a local piloting phase involving 40+ women in total, selected to represent different forms of vulnerability. Participants were guided through the three-phase pathway (Initial Assessment, Personalized Action Plan, Transversal Skills Evaluation) using interviews, self-assessment tools, mock interviews and, where relevant, company interactions.Continuous feedback from women, professionals and stakeholders was gathered and analysed during Steering Committee meetings and a final transnational meeting in Antalya, where the methodology was validated and refined.The project concluded with the publication of the Handbook and the digital toolkit under a Creative Commons licence, ensuring open access and transferability.<< Results >>The project produced concrete outputs and relevant qualitative results. The main deliverable is the Orient2Work Handbook, which systematises the conceptual framework, the three-phase methodology and the operational guidelines developed during workshops, LTTs and the piloting phase. A full multilingual toolkit was created—including assessment forms, personalised action plans, transversal-skills grids, mock-interview tools and company-interaction templates—published under a Creative Commons licence to ensure open and long-term reuse.The piloting with 40 women across Italy, France, Spain and Türkiye confirmed increased self-confidence, clearer professional goals and improved employability competences, validating the model’s adaptability to diverse socio-cultural contexts. Professionals reported enhanced methodological coherence and greater effectiveness in supporting beneficiaries.At partnership level, the project strengthened cooperation, built a transnational network and generated shared knowledge for future initiatives. Overall, Orient2Work delivered a validated, transferable model linking empowerment and inclusive labour-market access.