We, the people of METAVASI, are proud to win the JTP Champions Award, Category: Champions of Inclusion Award, for the project Centers for Skills Development and Employment in the Just Transition Regions, during the JTP Conference: 5th Anniversary of the Just Transition Platform, which was held on 21st October 2025 in Brussels. The Award was handed by the Director General of DG Regio, #ThemisChristophidou.
Within the framework of the implementation of the #JustDevelopmentTransitionProgram (JTDP) – Priority 4 «Just labor transition”, the project Centers for Skills Development and Employment in the Just Transition Regions, contributes to minimizing the social effects of delignitisation.
The Skills Centers have formed a network providing:
• personalized information, support, and job-matching services with local labor markets.
• Micro-learning, career counseling, and micro-certification activities.
• Implementation of specialized programs in green and digital skills.
The beneficiaries are unemployed, self-employed, and young entrepreneurs that want to work in the Just Transition areas.
Three centers are operating 2 in Western Macedonia Kozani, Florina and one in Megalopoli.
Also, a Mobile unit reaches remote municipalities with high unemployment.
The services are provided either by a Digital platform (e-Just4Skills) that offers remote access, to many different tools and programs or in the premises where experienced professionals are training the beneficiaries in upskilling and reskilling.
All services are free.
A Labor Market Observatory monitors job trends & skills needs (via field surveys & reports).
Also Networking activities with local stakeholders and labor markets are taking place to connect beneficiaries. Career days and networking Workshops have been successfully carried out.
WE ARE SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
The skills centers are promoting social inclusion by:
· preserving existing jobs and containing unemployment, especially in population groups that are more strongly affected,
· creating new jobs in new specialties and with a positive impact on income
· creating highly skilled jobs ensuring equality, social and economic inclusion and non-discrimination.
And because a successful project is always a result of a teamwork, we would like to thank them for their support:
· the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, #NikosPapathanasis, who is also the Minister responsible for the Just Transition in Greece,
· the Governor of the Special Authority, Pelopidas Kalliris, for the excellent cooperation,
· the Contractors of the project, the association of companies Apopsi and EEO Group,
· and our partners from DG Regio for their guidance.
