EMI - Empowering Migrant Youth Through Development of Entrepreneurial Mindset

Project period

1.5.2025 - 30.4.2027

Project funding

Interreg Central Baltic 2021-2027

The project idea is based on the needs identified by national and Central Baltic reports on the social integration of people with an immigrant background and EU studies that proved an entrepreneurial mindset to be a primary ingredient of sustainable development, growth and social cohesion.

The LAB University of Applied Sciences and the Lab Futura association, a non-profit non-governmental organisation from Riga, Latvia, carry out the project.

The EMI project aims to enhance young migrants’ employment opportunities in the labour market by engaging them in a comprehensive Entrepreneurial mindset training programme. Tailored to the needs of the target group, the programme combines distant and face-to-face education enriched with cultural knowledge and facilitated by gamification. The programme includes cross-border online workshops to foster skills, a mentorship programme to provide real-world insights and expand network, and a cross-border training session to present own ideas to the youngsters of participating countries.
All the activities are carried out jointly by the partners.

The project team creates the training content on the entrepreneurial mindset for young migrants – learning material for at least 120 hours of work. The hybrid mode facilitates access for those residing in remote areas. English allows access for those who have recently moved to the country and haven’t learned the local language. The training content adapts relevant experience and material from previous projects and includes mentorship to provide participants with real-life examples and expand their networks. Joint work activates cross-border trainers’ communication and results in visual, promotional and guidance materials.
The EMI project partners are committed to ensuring that at least 40 young people with an immigrant background, including refugees, complete the EMI training programme (with participation in at least 70% of the activities). By providing the participants with entrepreneurial skills and a supportive learning environment, the project will accelerate their integration into local ecosystems and boost their future employment success.