MYJOB partners launch cross-border youth coaching work in Mikkeli

The Interreg Central Baltic MYJOB – My Job, My Business project partners met in Mikkeli, Finland, on 25–27 August 2026 for the first joint project kick-off meeting. The three-day meeting brought together the project teams from South Savo Vocational College (Esedu) in Finland and Valga County Vocational Training Centre (VKOK) in Estonia.

South Savo and Valga County face similar challenges: young people in sparsely populated regions may have limited networks, work experience and access to employment. The project kick-off focused on building a shared understanding of the project goals, activities and cross-border cooperation. The partners reviewed the project implementation plan and milestones and worked together on the first steps towards developing the MYJOB career coaching model for the regional youth under 26. The discussions covered the target group and participant recruitment, the structure and content of the coaching programme, mentoring and work-based learning, digital and AI-supported tools, hackathons, interest group involvement and the practical arrangements for the upcoming pilot activities.

The MYJOB coaching model will combine workshops, personalised career coaching, real-life work experience and cross-border activities to strengthen the labour market skills and opportunities of young people under 26 in South Savo and Valga County. The project aims to involve at least 60 young people, with at least 50 participants completing the full six-month programme.

The project kick-off provided a strong starting point for the cooperation between Esedu and VKOK – and for building the Interreg Central Baltic MYJOB youth coaching model together across borders.

For more information, please view: MYJOB – Central Baltic