Institution
Limerick Institute of Technology

Web Site
https://www.folmweb.com/en/ https://lit.ie/Research-Development/Development/Rural-Development/FOLM-%E2%80%93-From-Outdoors-to-Labour-Market

Factual description
The From Outdoors to Labour Market (FOLM) project is focused on an innovative education approach addressing the youth who are Not in Employment, Education or Training, so called NEETs. The concept behind the FOLM learning experience is to motivate and encourage them into taking up studies or the labour market, thanks to our Outdoors Learning programme.

The FOLM Project provides a stimulating and innovative programme connecting with NEETs to develop professional and life skills enabling them to become inspired and active in their region. The programme engages 990 NEETs in Warmia-Masuria (Poland), Cantabria (Spain) and Mid-West Region (Ireland) by transferring the experience from the University of Edinburgh’s “Model for social and personal growth through Outdoor Learning”.

The FOLM Project uses Outdoor Learning as a means to engage youth with the community and develop a sustainable framework for the model to be applied by stakeholders across Europe. Through the programme participants recognize strengths/talents, strengthen soft skills, build self-esteem/self-awareness and fortify attitudes for employment. Finally, the Project Consortium provides job matching through outreach to employers’ organizations, promotion, mentoring and trail employment.

Relevance in complex systems
Engaging people to go from unemployment to being more equipped to undertake a real change within their life’s is imperative to a successful economy. Empowering of younger people from a range of social, cultural and educational backgrounds is

Strong points
There are several unique interactions that happen throughout this programme and the engagement and feedback from participants have been excellent.

The model structures are unique, it’s not just the learning, it also has coaching and mentoring factors that are excellent.

It is really changing the way the participants see themselves and the opportunities that they have going forward.

Transferability potential
There are excellent opportunities for this programme to be rolled out across the country, however the funding requirements of the project need to be dealt with by a national agency (i.e. Tusla) so that the needs of the project can be met.