About project

BorderLink – Skills for Labour Market Integration addresses common challenges faced by the Latvia–Estonia border regions of Latgale, Ida-Viru and Võru. These regions are located at the EU external border and face similar development issues: limited local employment opportunities, outflow of young people to larger cities and more developed regions, and a mismatch between the skills provided by formal education and the actual needs of local enterprises.

The project aims to improve the employability and entrepreneurship skills of young people under 25, including young people from vulnerable or social risk groups. By strengthening practical skills that are needed in the labour market, the project will help young people better prepare for working life, develop their own business ideas and see more opportunities for their future in their home regions.

To achieve this, the project partners from Latvia and Estonia will jointly develop and implement a practical 40-hour after-school training programme. The programme will focus on entrepreneurial and transferable skills, including digital skills, use of AI and other modern tools, business idea development, student company simulations, pitching and other practical activities linked to the real needs of local employers.

The training programme will be developed in close cooperation with local enterprises, educational institutions and business support organisations. It will be piloted and implemented in Latgale region in Latvia and in Ida-Viru and Võru counties in Estonia. The project will also prepare 60 teachers and trainers who will be able to deliver the programme to young people in the participating regions.

A key part of BorderLink is the direct connection between young people and employers. The project will organise cross-border workshops, business pitching sessions, match-making events, short-term secondments in enterprises and mentoring programmes. These activities will give young people practical experience, help them build contacts with entrepreneurs and increase their chances of entering the labour market.

By the end of the project, 240 young people are expected to participate in the joint training programme, and 225 young people are expected to complete it and improve their entrepreneurship and transferable skills. Around 50 participants will be young people from social risk groups. The project will also involve local enterprises, helping them meet young talents and address skills and workforce needs in the border regions.

In the long term, BorderLink will strengthen cooperation between education providers, local authorities and businesses. The developed training programme and materials will remain available for further use in schools, youth centres, vocational education institutions and other learning settings. In this way, the project will contribute to better employment opportunities, stronger local business environments and more attractive future prospects for young people in the Latvia–Estonia border area.