Today marks the launch of the SEER program (Seeking Economic Empowerment and Resilience for refugees and migrants), initiated by YBI, Youth Business International, an international network of organizations dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs. This program encompasses training and guidance initiatives aimed at facilitating employment and business development, thus fostering economic and occupational inclusion for young migrants and refugees under the age of 35 in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden.

Within this program, Microlab is committed to supporting approximately 400 young migrants and refugees in Italy over the next 12 months. This support will include free training and business mentoring to empower them with the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to secure formal employment or embark on entrepreneurial endeavors.

The European program will be executed by four members of the YBI network and aspires to assist 1,500 young migrants in overcoming the challenges they face in achieving economic independence, whether through traditional employment or entrepreneurship.

In Italy, there are over 5 million foreigners, comprising 10.4% of the national workforce. Furthermore, more than 600,000 active businesses, constituting 10.6% of the total, have been founded by migrants. Despite the relatively high employment rate among the migrant population, various risks of economic and social marginalization persist. These risks stem from fragmented labor relationships, low wages, and informal employment, which are characteristic of sectors where migrants are predominantly employed.

The SEER pilot program also aims to identify common challenges and best practices in supporting young migrants and refugees in Europe. This effort will result in the creation of a toolkit of resources to be shared within the global network of Youth Business International.

To achieve this goal, collaboration with various organizations in the refugee assistance and entrepreneurial sectors is planned. Among these organizations is TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network), facilitating a fruitful exchange of expertise to better support young entrepreneurs from migrant and refugee communities in different contexts and geographical areas.

For more information, please visit the website.