The project “Influencers” project aims to promote the active engagement of young people living with a disability or long-term health condition through social entrepreneurship.

While the right to work is a fundamental right enshrined in Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is far from a reality for many people living with a disability or a long-term medical condition.

Social entrepreneurship can act as an important bridge to inclusion for people on the margins of society. Online social entrepreneurship is an area especially relevant for young people living with a disability or long-term health condition.

The project promotes the sharing of life experiences and wants to demonstrate that living with a disability or a long-term health condition is possible, explains how obstacles have been overcome, directs to appropriate services or support networks, and has developed a forum for discussion and debate to connect other young people in similar circumstances.

Technology provides opportunities to level the playing field for young people living with a disability or long-term health condition like never before. Technology can support more equitable societies as well as more inclusive communities. It can help build support networks for people of all ages living with a disability or caring for someone with a disability. It can help demystify certain medical, physical or cognitive disabilities and create a more understanding and empathetic society.

The project has developed the following support materials:

• Online Social Entrepreneurship Curriculum

The development of an Online Social Entrepreneurship Curriculum that focuses on building the knowledge, skills and competences needed to support young people living with a disability or long-term health condition to develop the next generation of online social enterprises.

• Digital and Social Media Literacy Curriculum

The development of a comprehensive curriculum of digital literacy and social media training resources.

• In-service training programme

The development of an in-service training programme to ensure that young professionals are equipped to deliver the Online Social Entrepreneurship Curriculum and the Digital and Social Media Literacy Curriculum.

This project is supported within the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme - Innovation