Employed, Empowered Round Table 3. Belgrade

23-24th November 2007

Download the Agenda here (pdf format, 100 Mb)

Continuing the process started by the first and second roundtables in September/October, the Employed, Empowered participants met again to discuss what kind of training would be most useful to empower disadvantaged groups and allow for access to sustainable income and a legal existence in society. 

Attended by 35 representatives of private economy, organizations offering adult learning and alternative forms of education, government institutions, NGOs and international bodies as well as representatives of the refugee community who initiated the process at the previous roundtables, the event rounded up the circle of expert discussions to formulate workable model solutions for the empowerment of the forced migrant population in Serbia.     

The working groups elaborated on a plan of action and a team was formed to consult on the actual development of training materials focusing on transferable skills and vocational knowledge vital for a wide range of professions. Psycho-social empowerment and a specific methodology taking into account the vulnerability of large groups within the target population was established as the basis for the training modules.

There is a strong need to raise awareness for the concept of “life-long-learning” and the evolution of the knowledge based society, heading towards the aims formulated in the three pillars of the Lisbon Strategy. Especially disadvantaged groups are in danger of being further marginalised, if the Lisbonisation takes place and they are bypassed.