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Supported by Erasmus + Programme

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Open Digital Europe

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Out of the Box International develops a tailor made open data model and policies based on open digital environment which is transparent, accountable and secured.

Social Businesses

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Out of the Box International works with already existing hubs, various local and national stakeholders and social entrepreneurs in order to further develop and promote successful social entrepreneurship policies and practices.

Solidarity Europe

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Out of the Box International delivers expertise in the field of cohesive policies by using cross-sectorial approach and non-formal  education, in a global perspective.

European Project

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Out of the Box International  works further to enhance current cooperation in South East Europe region and actively supports the integration of all European countries in common European project.

SUPPORT project kicked-off in Brussels

September 25, 2025

On 23rd and 24th September 2025, the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) convened partners and stakeholders in Brussels for the official kick-off meeting of the SUPPORT project, co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ programme.

SUPPORT aims to tackle long-term unemployment among persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups by transferring and scaling up innovative Supported Employment (SE) and Supported Learning practices across Europe. By focusing on “place-then-train” approaches, the project will improve access to the open labour market, strengthen employer engagement, and build sustainable, inclusive workplaces.

The project brings together a diverse consortium of European networks, service providers, research organisations and local actors. Alongside the project leader EASPD, the partners include the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE), the European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR), Out of the Box International (OTB, Belgium), the Zero Project (Austria), Fundación Intermedia (Spain), GTB – Gespecialiseerd Team Bemiddeling (Belgium), the Alături de Voi Romania Foundation (ADV Romania), AIAS Bologna (Italy), the MARGARITA VET Centre (Greece), the Zentrum für Sozialwirtschaft (Austria), URIHO (Croatia), AESE (Spain), FunkWeb (Norway), Synkroon (Belgium) and ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy.

Out of the Box International is represented in the project by Director Marko Paunović and Igor Jojkić, an expert and member of the OTB Pool of Experts. Together with the partners, they will contribute to developing effective strategies, training programmes, and policy recommendations that support persons with disabilities in finding and retaining meaningful employment.

This kick-off marks the beginning of a collaborative journey to demonstrate how Supported Employment can reduce long-term unemployment, strengthen social cohesion, and ensure that European labour markets become more inclusive and resilient.

Why Out of the Box International

The seemingly ever-lasting depression of European economies has shaken the very foundations of many European societies. The shear rate of unemployment in Europe and the omnipresent environmental crisis coupled with the often frustratingly slow process of decision making in the EU, are calling for civil society actors to step in and fill the void.

In the aftermath of the 2008. economic crisis, the apprehension of falling under the spell of apathy of economic depression across the continent has not been easy to shake off. However, pinpointing the culprits for the current state of affairs on any particular EU decision maker is not the answer. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the current approach to the economic and environmental crisis hasn’t yet shown the affected citizens the light at the end of the tunnel.

As representatives of the civil society we feel the need to make our voice heard in the midst of the current debate on economic crisis. Being a social enterprise we offer new and feasible ideas in education and community work, creative cross-sectorial cooperation among different actors and strong networking coalitions to turn these dire economic challenges into possibilities through social entrepreneurship initiatives which aim at benefiting wide range of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and those affected by the economic crisis.

Social entrepreneurship is a simple concept that has been put into practice by civil society actors for the benefit of a specific social group or people, and this is precisely what we want: to create projects and initiatives with fresh ideas in different policies, educational programs or tools, support businesses, empower cultural initiatives and offer different solutions to individuals, corporate bodies, everybody who believe that we can have more Creative, Innovative and Cohesive Europe.

 

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