IT-Bridge: A Bridge to Employment in the IT Sector for Migrant Youth

AICCON is a partner in the European project IT-Bridge: Empowering Migrant Youth for Employment, an innovative initiative involving Italy and Spain that aims to improve the employability of young people with a migrant background through technical training in the IT sector and personalized support.

A Project to Bridge the Skills Gap

Young people with a migrant background are a particularly vulnerable group in the labor market: they are overrepresented among NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), more likely to drop out of school early, and often employed in the informal labor market. Although the IT sector offers many opportunities, these young people face significant barriers such as language difficulties, limited knowledge of the local work environment, and a lack of social networks.

IT-Bridge addresses these challenges with a social innovation approach, combining technical training with empowerment interventions and holistic support. The goal is to equip participants with the skills and resources necessary to access educational and professional pathways in the digital sector.

Project Objectives

Through a multi-stakeholder intervention model, IT-Bridge aims to:

1. Promote the skills development of young people with a migrant background (particularly NEETs) through the implementation of a customized program tailored to the needs of this group in the IT sector, while simultaneously providing support to help them navigate the labor market independently.
2. Increase the employability of young people by helping them bridge skill gaps and overcome socio-communicative barriers that may hinder access to education and/or employment.
3. Develop an innovative approach that can also be applied to other training programs, other vulnerable groups (such as long-term unemployed individuals or people with disabilities), or in other countries.

Project Actions

IT-Bridge is structured into different phases:

• Empowerment Path: Personal and professional growth paths to strengthen confidence and awareness of one’s skills.
• IT Training: Technical training to acquire the fundamental digital skills required in the IT sector.
• Job Orientation: Support for career guidance and assistance in entering the labor market.
• Learning Hub: Collaborative learning spaces to foster growth and knowledge exchange.

Impact and Expected Results

The project aims to directly involve 140 young migrants in the onboarding process and 90 participants in empowerment pathways. Additionally, through a strategy of awareness and networking, IT-Bridge seeks to reach 300 entities and 500 potential beneficiaries, with an indirect impact on over 50,000 people. Finally, at least 10 companies will participate in Speed Meets, networking events between young people and businesses to facilitate employment opportunities.

The project is promoted by Soleterre, CISE | Centro Internacional Santander Emprendimiento, RANDSTAD, IRC-International Rescue Committee, AICCON, Fondazione Italiana Accenture, MPDL-Movimiento por la Paz e TAZEBAEZ.

The project is funded by the European Social Fund Agency (ESF+ 2021-2027)