Problem Statement

The Workshop of Futures project aims to tackle the shortage of skills necessary to address the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution, with a focus on the Grajaú region in São Paulo. Targeting youth in economically vulnerable situations, it addresses issues such as school dropout rates and lack of educational and employment opportunities. Recent data highlights that less than 25% of young people aged 18 to 24 have access to higher education in Brazil, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to provide higher education to a significant portion of the youth population.

Target Group

Young people from the Grajaú region in Sáo Paulo

Proposed Solution

The project aims to empower and equip young people from the Grajaú-SP region to pursue professional opportunities.

The first part focuses on high school and technical students, encouraging them to be agents of change and preparing them for the job market.

The second part is aimed at those beyond high school, including college students and graduates, who face challenges in entering the workforce.

Hub Activities

The Futures Workshop project trains young people from Grajaú, in São Paulo, to tackle local and global challenges by providing essential technical tools and interpersonal skills. It includes workshops for two target groups: teenagers aged 14 to 18 attending high school and/or technical courses, and young people who have completed high school and/or technical education.

The methodology varies: for the first group, it is based on social impact projects inspired by Design Thinking. For the second group, it combines modules of technical and interpersonal skills. The modules cover self-awareness, skills for the job market, investigation of local issues, ideation of impact projects, and presentation techniques. Participants conclude the program by presenting their projects and participating in a hackathon.

The planned stages for project execution are as follows: Mapping of communities within Grajaú; Visit and initial dialogue with the local community; Establishment of project scope; Preliminary mapping of partners and institutions; Development of project methodology, involving both technical content and soft skills; Operationalization strategy, including venue selection, student and mentor recruitment strategies; Conducting workshops and events; Continuous monitoring and evaluation of activities; Consolidation and expansion of the program, including job market insertion and model replicability in other regions; Providing feedback to the community and partners with project results.

Short and Long-Term Objectives

Short-term: Identification of local needs, mapping of partners, and establishment of partnerships.

Long-term: Sustainable integration into the job market, long-lasting social and economic impact, empowerment of new leaders, feedback, and project expansion to other locations.

Available Metrics

To assess the reach and effectiveness of the project, various impact metrics will be monitored, including:

• Number of established partnerships (NGOs and schools)


• Number of students engaged in the project


• Number of students completing the training cycle


• Number of young people employed post-training cycle (phase 2)


• NPS promoter score of students, schools, and partner organizations.

So far, we have established local partnerships, engaged 2 regional facilitators, and community leaders. We aim to map the local youth, form 3 groups of 25 young people, validate the Workshop of Futures, measure project quality with KPIs, promote diversity, and empower youth for leadership and job market insertion.

Collaborators

To ensure the success and sustainability of the project, it is crucial to establish strategic partnerships with both public and private institutions. These partnerships provide the necessary resources and support to achieve the project's objectives.

Examples of potential partners include education departments, social organizations, local businesses, NGOs, and research institutions. These entities have strong community involvement and resources that can significantly contribute to the project.