The SMILE project is implemented by a committed consortium of seven organizations from Türkiye, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands. These partners represent a diverse mix of NGOs, research consultancies, educational institutions, and youth organizations. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and on-the-ground experience in youth empowerment, non-formal education, migration, social innovation, and digital transformation. Working together, they form a strong ecosystem that enables holistic, inclusive, and sustainable support for young migrants.
Göç Sanat ve Spor Derneği (Migration, Art and Sports Association) – Türkiye
Headquartered in Ankara, Göç Sanat ve Spor Derneği serves as the lead coordinator of the SMILE project. The organization is well-known for integrating arts, sports, and educational activities to promote social inclusion and personal development among youth, particularly those from migrant or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Since its founding, Göç Sanat has built a strong local and international network, implementing EU-funded projects that foster creative learning, intercultural dialogue, and youth participation. As the main driver behind SMILE, it oversees project coordination, quality assurance, and strategic alignment, ensuring that the activities are rooted in the real-life needs of young migrants and effectively promote integration through innovative, non-formal methods.
Kyttaro Enallaktikon Anazitiseon Neon (KEAN) – Greece
Located in Ilion, Attica, KEAN is one of Greece’s most respected NGOs working in the field of social inclusion, environmental protection, and youth empowerment. Since its establishment in 2004, KEAN has implemented dozens of local, national, and European projects targeting young people, refugees, and marginalized populations.
KEAN brings significant expertise in designing and delivering community-based interventions that address exclusion, discrimination, and inequality. Within the SMILE project, KEAN contributes to the design of inclusive educational pathways, community engagement activities, and local dissemination, ensuring that the project resonates with and benefits vulnerable youth groups in Greece.
Work in Progress APS – Italy
Based in the southern Italian town of Galatone (Puglia), Work in Progress APS is a civic association dedicated to vocational training, entrepreneurship education, and soft skills development. With a hands-on, participatory approach, the organization creates meaningful opportunities for young people and adults at risk of exclusion, with a particular focus on NEETs and migrants.
Work in Progress APS plays a pivotal role in adapting the project’s training modules to local realities, drawing from its direct work with youth and job seekers in the region. It also supports piloting, evaluation, and transferability of results, ensuring that learning outcomes are both relevant and sustainable.
Smart Leap Education Research Consultancy GmbH – Germany
Smart Leap, based in Düsseldorf, is an education and research consultancy specializing in lifelong learning strategies, skills forecasting, and digital transition in education. The organization works at the interface of research, policy, and practice, delivering innovative solutions for youth empowerment, labor market integration, and upskilling.
Smart Leap contributes deep methodological and analytical expertise to the SMILE project. Its team leads the design of pedagogical frameworks and digital learning environments, ensuring that training is accessible, impactful, and aligned with current labor market needs in Europe. The organization also supports monitoring and data collection to evaluate outcomes at scale.
Association of Entrepreneurship School – Türkiye
Located in Çankaya-Kızılay in Ankara, the Association of Entrepreneurship School focuses on developing entrepreneurial mindsets and practical business skills among young people. The organization runs structured programs on innovation, startup incubation, and social enterprise, while also fostering leadership and civic responsibility.
Within SMILE, the Entrepreneurship School contributes its expertise in career planning, skills development, and mentoring, helping young migrants explore and prepare for self-employment or entry into the workforce. The organization also works with employers and mentors to build bridges between education and real-world opportunities.
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Stichting Unity Sphere Europe – Netherlands
Stichting Unity Sphere Europe is a non-profit foundation based in Tilburg, North Brabant, with a mission to foster European integration, youth participation, and inclusive digital learning. The organization designs cross-cultural educational programs, supports civic engagement, and creates accessible content for youth from all backgrounds.
In SMILE, Unity Sphere Europe brings specialized knowledge in digital storytelling, online engagement, and the gamification of soft skills training. Its contribution is key to ensuring the project’s learning tools are user-friendly, scalable, and adapted to the digital habits of today's youth.