HORIZONCRAFT

HorizonCraft: Sailing towards Mediterranean expertise building

Project Referenence: HorizonCraft~A_Y_3.1_0242

In Southern Sardinia (Italy), Beirut (Lebanon), and Alexandria (Egypt), youth unemployment remains critically high, with many young people lacking the practical skills needed by local MSMEs. This mismatch between education and labor market needs limits opportunities and fuels social inequality. HorizonCraft responds by creating a Euro-Mediterranean internship scheme that connects youth with real work experiences and builds the capacity of MSMEs to mentor and support them.

Youth unemployment in the Mediterranean, particularly in Lebanon, Egypt, and Southern Italy—remains critically high, with Lebanon’s youth unemployment reaching nearly 48% in 2022 compared to a national rate of 29.6%. The project will enhance employment prospects for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds while strengthening MSMEs as youth mentors and drivers of local growth and reducing skills mismatches through stronger vocational pathways in the Mediterranean.

The HorizonCraft project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. 

Start Date: 10/11/2025   End Date: 10/10/2027

Expected Results

• 60 youth internships in three pilot territories: Southern Sardinia, Beirut, and Alexandria.
• A Euromed Internships Matching Platform for companies and candidates.
• Personalized onboarding and reintegration plans to guide interns as they enter the workplace and support them in applying their new skills after the internship ends.
• Policy recommendations for youth inclusion and workforce readiness in the region.

Objectives
• To develop and implement a cross-border internship scheme matching youth with local MSMEs.
• To build the capacity of MSMEs to mentor, onboard, and support young talent.
• To improve youth employability through practical, tailored skills training.

Beneficiaries

• 105 young people from Italy, Lebanon, and Egypt, with a focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• MSMEs that host and mentor interns, benefiting from training and new perspectives.
• Youth organizations, trainers, educators, and local stakeholders involved in the scheme.
• Policymakers and local authorities supported with concrete recommendations and models.

Project Partners

Association TDM 2000 (Lead Partner)
Mediterranean Initiatives for Development and Leadership (PP1)
Have a Dream (PP2)
Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (PP3)
Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (PP4)
Federation of Artisans and Craftsmen South Sardinia (PP5)

Budget

The total budget of the project is 1.103.275,00 with a 89% Interreg Funds.

Project Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/horizoncraft/about/