"The EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey" Newsletter Issues

About (05/10/2021)

Türkiye hosts one of the biggest refugee populations in the world, including more than 3.1 million Syrian refugees and almost 300 000 refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities. In 2016, the EU set up the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to address the needs of the refugees and host communities in the country. Facility projects focus on humanitarian assistance, education, migration management, health, municipal infrastructure, and socio-economic support. The full budget of the Facility, €6 billion, has been programmed and contracted, with over €5.4 billion disbursed. To ensure the continuation of initiatives started under the Facility, the EU allocated a further €3.5 billion to refugees and host communities in Türkiye in 2020-2023: out of this €3 billion has been contracted and over €1.7 billion disbursed.

A Syrian girl supports disabled people in Türkiye (12/07/2024)

Muna lost one of her legs at the age of three. She was walking the streets of her hometown Hama in Syria when a car hit her. Her leg had to be amputated below the knee. Muna received treatment and a prosthesis that allowed her to walk again, but then the war in Syria started. For two years, she had to continue using the same device, even though she had long outgrown it. One day, on the way to school, her prosthesis broke. After this, her family came to Reyhanlı, Türkiye, where she got a new prosthetic leg. Now, at 23-years-old, Muna works as a physiotherapist at the very EU-funded centre where she received her artificial limb.

Yüsra’s story: “I don’t know what I’d do, where I’d go if this health centre didn’t exist” (12/07/2024)

The Extended Migrant Health Centre in the Turkish city of Mersin is the place that changed Yüsra Ammuri’s life. Eight years ago, she came from Syria with her husband and their children. At the health centre, they detected a tumor during her mammogram. With the help of the doctors and social workers, Yüsra was able to receive her first hospital appointment and start her treatment. The health centre, built within the scope of the SIHHAT Project, is funded by European Union and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Health. In Türkiye, there are around 200 migrant health centres in 32 cities, which have already served 6.5 million people.

Social cooperative creates jobs for refugee women in Türkiye (12/07/2024)

‘’At Halka we decide together as partners – we share our opinions and make the call. There are no bosses. We are the workers and our own bosses’’, says Meryem Neccar. The Syrian woman found out about the cooperative from her neighbour. Halka is a female-led cooperative, found in Izmir in 2020 with the financial support of the European Union and administrated by the World Bank. The cooperative provides cleaning services to households or businesses. But it is also more than that. It is a place where women receive all kind of different trainings and learn new skills. While the women are at trainings or at work, childcare services are also provided. In this way, women don’t need to worry who is going to take care of their children while they are working.

Refugee earthquake survivors in Türkiye: “Education is crucial for our children’s future” (12/07/2024)

Imagine your life is turned upside down twice in the last 10 years. The Syrian refugees left everything behind because of the civil war in Syria and fled to Türkiye to find safe and better future. The life they built was again buried under rubble in the February 2023 earthquakes, where more than 55,000 people died. The only thing they think about now is to see their children receive a good education, which will help them to have a better life than their parents. Since 2016 the EU has been providing financial support for the most vulnerable refugee children in Türkiye to access formal and non-formal education programmes. More than 160,000 children benefit from the Support for School Enrolment (SSE) programme. It is carried out in partnership with UNICEF, the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), and the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM).

About (05/10/2021)

Türkiye hosts one of the biggest refugee populations in the world, including more than 3.1 million Syrian refugees and almost 300 000 refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities. In 2016, the EU set up the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to address the needs of the refugees and host communities in the country. Facility projects focus on humanitarian assistance, education, migration management, health, municipal infrastructure, and socio-economic support. The full budget of the Facility, €6 billion, has been programmed and contracted, with over €5.4 billion disbursed. To ensure the continuation of initiatives started under the Facility, the EU allocated a further €3.5 billion to refugees and host communities in Türkiye in 2020-2023: out of this €3 billion has been contracted and over €1.7 billion disbursed.

“I started my own business”: how an EU-funded project supports entrepreneurs in Türkiye (05/12/2023)

If you think that a coffee can be made only from coffee beans, think twice. Hala Mouslem, a Syrian woman living in Gaziantep, produces a date seed coffee. Thanks to the EU-funded ENHANCER Project (Enhancement of Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Socio-Economic Integration), she has received a training course at the Gaziantep Gastronomy Academy and now runs her own business. Diana Arour, another Syrian entrepreneur living in Gaziantep, produces and sells biscuits and desserts after completing a training course in the Academy. The ENHANCER Project is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and Development Agencies. Over 5,500 people have received entrepreneurship training with EU support.

“I would do anything to support my children’s education” (05/12/2023)

Aliye and Sewsen are both mothers and refugees who fled from Syria in search of a safer future. They faced similar difficulties when arriving in Türkiye, one above all being the language barrier. Thanks to EU humanitarian funding, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) together with its local partner Mavi Kalem helped their families overcome the struggles they encountered building a new life. Mavi Kalem’s centre in Istanbul offers psychosocial support to refugees, with diverse activities for adults and education support for children. Aliye arrived in Türkiye 8 years ago to protect her children from the war in Syria. Her family faced many difficulties, but after meeting the Mavi Kalem’s team 6 years ago, they were able to get the support they needed. Through the years, they received food assistance and tablets, so their children could continue their education during the pandemic. Sewsen from Aleppo first fled to Lebanon and then arrived in Türkiye, where she got married and had two children. She came alone, and her family members are scattered around the world. Mavi Kalem’s centre helped her to socialise with other women.

Türkiye earthquakes: EU-funded centre helps women and children cope with trauma (05/12/2023)

This year’s devastating earthquakes have led to unprecedented humanitarian needs in 11 provinces across Türkiye. The disaster claimed the lives of over 50,000 people, and directly impacted some 14 million people. In Kilis, a community centre by the International Blue Crescent Relief & Development Foundation (IBC), provides a safe space for local and refugee children to learn, play and recover. In addition, women also receive support to help them overcome the trauma they have experienced. The 11-year-old Ece from Gaziantep enjoys coming to the centre. “I have a lot of fun here. We play games and do drama activities. We go to the movies, tour the city. When I go out, I discover new things and it makes me very happy,” she says. Co-funded by the EU’s humanitarian aid and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GIZ actively supports local initiatives like this one. The aim is to address the pressing needs of the most vulnerable and at-risk groups.

A safety anchor for nomadic refugees (05/12/2023)

Rıza and Havle used to live a nomadic life in Syria. The young family decided to settle in Gaziantep, Türkiye, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They asked for temporary protection identity cards to access important services such as health care. However, the road to getting proper documentation was bumpy. Being registered has removed a very important barrier for the family. Now they can access services and assistance. Thanks to EU humanitarian funding, the Irish NGO ‘’GOAL’’ supports nomadic and semi-nomadic refugees like Rıza’s family, as well as seasonal agricultural workers in Türkiye.

Video story: Syrian refugee children learn Turkish in schools thanks to an EU-funded project (05/12/2023)

Foreign nationals make up one-fifth of the students at the Erol Battal Middle School in Istanbul’s Bagcilar district. Sheima al-Huseyni is the third best student in the school. Due to the war, she and her little brother Osama had to flee Syria and move to Türkiye. Thanks to the EU-funded project Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into Turkish Education System (PIKTES) Sheima and Osama were able to take Turkish language lessons. This helped them to communicate better with their peers and to integrate smoothly into the educational process.

From #PowerToBe to #PowerToShare: changing refugee perceptions in Türkiye (09/06/2023)

The #PowerToBe campaign follows the story of three passionate Syrians living in Türkiye. Hiba, Ibrahim and Davud were forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind, but they are driven by the desire to connect with and support others. The campaign follows refugees in Türkiye who receive monthly EU-funded cash assistance to meet their essential needs, and shows how people from all walks of life can connect and support each other.

Syrian refugee children learn Turkish in schools thanks to an EU-funded project (09/06/2023)

Foreign nationals make up one-fifth of the students at the Erol Battal Middle School in Istanbul’s Bagcilar district. Sheima al-Huseyni is the third best student in the school. Due to the war, she and her little brother Osama had to flee Syria and move to Türkiye. "There was a lot of war there. In fact, when we returned home one time, the house next door was completely gone; it had been bombed ", remembers Sheima. Thanks to the EU-funded project Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into Turkish Education System (PIKTES) Sheima and Osama were able to take Turkish language lessons. This helped them to communicate better with their peers and to integrate smoothly into the educational process.

Video: EU response to the earthquakes in Türkiye (09/06/2023)

Following the devastating earthquakes that struck the south-eastern Anatolia region on 6 February 2023, Türkiye activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Participating States sent emergency teams, shelter materials, medical devices, medicines, and a medical evacuation plane to help transport the wounded from affected areas to hospitals within the country. EU humanitarian funding helped meet the immediate needs of the people, affected by the disaster such as access to shelter, food, waters, sanitation, and healthcare.

Video: Najlaa dreams to open a store one day (09/06/2023)

“My goal is to live a better life, open my own store, and own a brand called “Najlaa” to show my products’’, says Najlaa, a Syrian woman who fled to Türkiye. Just like over 1.5 million refugees in Türkiye, she receives a monthly EU cash assistance, which helps her and her family to pay a significant part of their living expenses.

Video: Asma is saying ‘NO’ to gender-based violence (03/04/2023)

‘No one has the right to control another person’, says Asma Abu Zrar, a Syrian woman who is currently living in Istanbul. She heard about the Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV) from one of her neighbours. The centre’s social services include Turkish language, sewing and handicraft courses. There are also online sessions, which cover various issues such as women’s rights to learn, work, and develop their own character.

EU Donors’ Conference raises €7 billion to support people in Türkiye and Syria (03/04/2023)

On 20 March, the Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency hosted an International Donors' Conference in Brussels to mobilise support for the people in Türkiye and Syria after the devastating earthquakes of February 2023. More than 60 countries and organisations were invited to contribute with pledges. The total pledge amounts to €7 billion, made up of €6.05 billion in grants and loans for Türkiye and €911 million in grants for Syria.

Türkiye: providing support for refugees with disabilities (03/04/2023)

Najim lost one of his legs 5 years ago when an air attack hit his village in Syria. Fleeing the violence and looking for proper treatment, he ended up in Reyhanli, a small town on the Turkish side of the border. The local rehabilitation centre of Relief International, funded by EU humanitarian aid, helped him with a prosthesis and adapted physiotherapy. Over the past years, the rehabilitation centre in Reyhanli helped close to 1,500 patients with mobility aid. Another 9,000 were supported in other EU-funded centres of Relief International across Türkiye.

Accessing education to realise dreams in Türkiye: Kevkab’s story (03/04/2023)

Being a child is the same all around the world. Their dreams about the future precede all difficulties and troubles. 13-year-old Kevkab did not give up on her dreams as a child who lived through the conflict in Syria and built a new life in Türkiye with her mother. Thanks to funding from the European Union and the support of the Turkish authorities, the implementing partner GOAL Türkiye is providing the necessary support for Kevkab to work towards realising her dreams. After several years of absence, she returned to school, and rolled up her sleeves to become a lawyer.

Accessing Disability Support in Türkiye: Ahmed’s Story (09/11/2022)

Ahmed and his wife Zozan fled the war in Syria and found safety in Türkiye ten years ago. They settled in the city of Adana, where their four children were born. Life in Adana was very difficult for Ahmed’s family at the beginning, where they initially lived in a tent which was not formally registered with local authorities. Thanks to an EU-funded humanitarian project, Ahmed and his family were able to tackle many challenges, including having their address legally recognised, which allowed them to access essential services.

A place of strength: accessing support for women’s mental health (09/11/2022)

“After the pandemic, our mental health was completely shattered,” says Selma, who is living in Gaziantep. According to the World Health Organization, refugees and migrants are more likely to experience common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, refugees were especially hard hit by the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. To respond to these challenges faced by female refugees in particular, an EU-funded project with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) organised online support sessions to reach women who could not access mental health services in person.

Muhab’s story: accessing education in Türkiye (09/11/2022)

6-year-old Muhab and his family were forced to flee their home in Syria due to the ongoing conflict. His family’s biggest wish was for Muhab to go to school; however, due to a mistake on Muhab’s ID, which indicated that he was two years younger than his actual age, he couldn’t enrol at the local school. An EU-funded project, implemented by GOAL Türkiye, supported Muhab and supports refugees like him in accessing essential rights and services. Thanks to this assistance, Muhab was successfully enrolled to a kindergarten half-way into the school year.

VIDEO: EKİP Social Cooperative (09/11/2022)

“Leaving the house for work— even the feeling of missing my home and my children during work— is exciting for me,” says Halez, a member of the EKİP social cooperative. EKİP brings Syrian and Turkish women together to produce healthy food for the working population in İstanbul’s selected neighbourhoods. Before joining EKİP, Halez had considered the prospect of working to be very unlikely in a large city like İstanbul while taking care of her two small kids.

The cost of living in safety (09/11/2022)

Nacah and Ahmed live in Türkiye. They both fled the war in Syria with their families to find safety, but as many refugees in Türkiye, they are struggling to make ends meet: “Every month it is a challenge. Prices for food, fuel and health care are rocketing. More and more, we need to choose what to pay first,” explains Nacah. To pay the rent of their modest house, Nacah and her family can count on support through the EU-funded Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN), which provides cash assistance to vulnerable refugees.

VIDEO: 2nd Power to be campaign (18/07/2022)

Meet Hiba, Eslam, Mohammed and Ibrahim – four passionate Syrians living in Turkey and supported by the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN), which currently provides financial support to 1.5 million vulnerable refugees in Turkey. Cash assistance helps give people freedom and dignity. They can decide for themselves how to cover essential needs like rent, transport, bills, food, and medicine.

“My life was always a war” (18/07/2022)

Rehaf fled the war in Syria with her two daughters in 2015. The young mother found safety in Turkey and managed to build a new life and future for herself and her children. EU-funded psychosocial support has helped her get through difficult times. Humanitarian projects in Turkey support refugees like Rehaf in accessing essential services like protection, specialised health, education and meeting their basic needs.

A special bond between father and daughter (18/07/2022)

Many daughters and fathers have an unbreakable bond, but Abdulsattar and his daughter Rahaf have a special relationship. They are both Syrian refugees who sought out medical care in Turkey, who received support in accessing this care thanks to an EU-support project of the Danish Refugee Council, aimed at providing legal support for refugees to reach the services they need.

Business networking for Syrian and Turkish entrepreneurs (18/07/2022)

Refugee entrepreneurs often face challenges when adapting to a new country. A series of business networking conferences and business-to-business meetings were held to provide participants with the opportunity to network and learn about the Turkish market and economy from various experts. Organised by the NGO SPARK with the financial support of the EU, these conferences aimed at supporting refugee entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners increase their cohesion with Turkish SMEs in various Turkish cities.

“My life was always a war” (25/02/2022)

Rehaf fled the war in Syria with her two daughters in 2015. The young mother found safety in Turkey and managed to build a new life and future for herself and her children. EU-funded psychosocial support has helped her get through difficult times. Humanitarian projects in Turkey support refugees like Rehaf in accessing essential services like protection, specialised health, education and meeting their basic needs.

Refugees with disabilities find hope in Turkey (25/02/2022)

Ryman, 43, from northern Syria, has been unable to walk ever since she was a small child. When the war in Syria started in 2011, life became even more difficult for her, and in 2017 she managed to flee to Turkey. A project funded by EU humanitarian aid helped her access health services, boost her self-esteem and make her own living. The EU provided financial support to help set up a service unit for refugees with disabilities. The service units help people with special needs access services such as counselling, psychosocial support and legal advice, as well as learning about rights and entitlements.

Mobile health services reach most vulnerable in agriculture (25/02/2022)

“They work in fields and live as a small group far away from the city centre so they don’t have to learn Turkish which makes it difficult for them to explain when they have health issues. We can say that they are the most vulnerable of the refugee community.” Syrian doctor Valid Ibrahim explains, speaking about seasonal migrant agricultural workers in Turkey. Doctor Ibrahim works for the Sihhat project, financed by the EU and implemented by the Turkish Ministry of Health, which provides mobile health services designed to reach out to patients also in these more remote areas.

I found my peace and treatment in Turkey (25/02/2022)

Adnan Zamat, who lives with his wife in Ankara, explains that he found the cause of the health problems he had been experiencing since his childhood while in Turkey. After fleeing Iraq, he was able to receive a diagnosis of his illness, and to meet the cost of his specific medical needs with the help of the Complementary Emergency Social Safety Net (C-ESSN). The C-ESSN project, financed by the EU and implemented through the Ministry of Family and Social Services, allows for support, hope, and even healing for the most vulnerable migrants who have taken refuge in Turkey. The C-ESSN serves the most vulnerable refugees identified among the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) beneficiaries, including non-Syrian refugees.

Video: Juggling towards a better future (25/02/2022)

Thanks to EU support many families in Turkey, like Mohammed’s, receive financial assistance so they can afford the things they need most and ultimately, realise their dreams.

A Digital window to breathe from (05/10/2021)

Staying home during the Coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for most of us. While physical distancing helps curb the spread of the virus, prolonged isolation can have a serious impact on mental health and wellbeing. Amani, a Syrian refugee in Turkey, tells us how online sessions funded under the Facility have helped her through these difficult times.

A healthy salad that brings back memories (05/10/2021)

Rayan, a 19-year-old high school student in Turkey, first discovered her passion for cooking when a strict lockdown was introduced to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Rayan is one of 1.8 million refugees in Turkey receiving cash assistance. Thanks to the cash support they receive each month via a debit card, her family can decide for themselves how to cover essential needs like rent, transport, medicine, or the ingredients to prepare healthy meals. The ESSN programme was set up under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to ensure the refugees can meet their basic needs.

Strategic Mid-term Evaluation of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey: publication and dissemination event held online (05/10/2021)

On the occasion of the publication of the Strategic Mid-term Evaluation of the Facility for Refugees, an online dissemination event was held on 7July, to present its findings and recommendations. This independent evaluation found that the Facility for Refugees in Turkey made a significant contribution to the welfare of Syrians and others fleeing conflict in the region in areas such as health, education, protection and socio-economic support. The Facility has been a symbol of solidarity and support for Turkey that has generously hosted the highest number of refugees in the world, and provided assistance at an unprecedented scale and reach, according to the evaluation. The Mid-term Evaluation report can be found on the Facility for Refugees website.

World Refugee Day online film festival (05/10/2021)

Starting on World Refugee Day on 20 June 2021, the Facility for Refugees in Turkey hosted a one-week online film festival, which featured films highlighting the lives of refugees. The selection featured award-winning titles, and included documentaries and live action productions, as well as short, -medium and full-length entries. The films were available to stream throughout Belgium from 20-26 June.

EU Delegation World Refugee Day event in Istanbul (05/10/2021)

Also in honour of World Refugee Day, the EU Delegation to Turkey together with the Ministry of National Education launched a video-mapping event in Istanbul, which featured a light and sound show that was projected on to Galata Tower, displaying the digitised artwork of Syrian and Turkish children in the form of an animation film. The event took place on 18 June.

Helping refugee children in Turkey go to school: Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) (05/10/2021)

Families of refugee children in Turkey who regularly attend classes receive a monthly cash transfer. Mustafa is one of them. He wants to become an architect. The aim of the CCTE programme is to encourage school enrolment and improve pupils' attendance to support them on their path to a brighter future. When children stop attending school, case workers reach out to their families to find out why, and help them find solutions to keep their kids in school. The CCTE programme was set up under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to ensure children can go to school.

Digital campaign connects inspiring refugees in Turkey with influencers across Europe (22/03/2017)

Davud, Amal, Bilal and Hamad have regained control of their lives through the EU's largest humanitarian programme, the Emergency Social Safety Net. Small monthly amounts, received via a debit card, help them and 1.8 million other refugees in Turkey pay for what they need most, such as food, rent, transport and medicines. An inspiring digital campaign highlighted the challenges faced by people fleeing conflict and showing them as the individuals with passions and talents they are – and has reached millions of people across Europe.

Mental health care: Family physicians’ crucial role (22/03/2017)

Family physicians play a crucial role in primary health-care services for refugees, and are often the first contact point to identify their mental health issues and needs. This is why both Turkish and Syrian health-care professionals are receiving trainings to enable them to identify and treat common psychological conditions through a new programme, implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Turkish Ministry of Health, with EU support. Dr Ramy Sheikhmuhammed, a Syrian family physician at the Ankara Alemdag Migrant Health Centre, participated in the trainings. He explains that “now we, the family physicians are also able to assess patients’ mental condition and offer our support”.

“Hearing the world around me is priceless” (22/03/2017)

“Hearing the world around me is priceless” says Sene, who was seven years old when her family fled from Syria because of the war. She is fifteen now and lives in rural Adana, southern Turkey, where she works as a seasonal agricultural worker like her parents. For two years, she struggled with a serious ear infection that prevented her from hearing anything and gave her severe headaches. Thanks to the care and guidance received by the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) mobile service units, supported by the EU, Sene received specialist treatment and can today hear the world around her again.

Lockdown as an opportunity: Developing Turkish language skills in the time of COVID-19 (22/03/2017)

Iman, a participant of EU-funded Turkish language courses, has continued practicing her Turkish skills during the COVID-19 related lockdown, which came into force right after completion of her classes: “Under lockdown, I tried to read as much as possible to develop my Turkish reading skills. I also spent quite a lot of time studying vocabulary. It was truly fun!” she says. The EU-financed project aims to increase access to Turkish Language learning and vocational training, and is provided by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in coordination with the Ministry for Education (MoNE).

Municipal infrastructure under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (04/06/2020)

Municipal infrastructure is an important sector under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, with €380 million allocated to this priority area under the second tranche of the Facility. Projects aim to improve access to and quality of municipal services in the areas of water supply, wastewater and solid waste management in areas most affected by the refugee influx.

Syrian refugee children rebuild their lives through education (22/03/2017)

Cihad and Emel fled the war in Syria with their three children and found safety in Turkey. Thanks to EU humanitarian funding, UNICEF is providing cash transfers to them and other families of refugee children in Turkey, who regularly attend school, to support them on their path to a brighter future.

After tragedy, refugee family finds safety and community in Turkey (22/03/2017)

“Learning to read and write has changed my life”, says Salimeh, a refugee from Afghanistan. An EU-funded project run by UNFPA in Turkey offers legal counselling, psychological support and language courses for refugees to help them overcome the challenges of displacement, and has helped Salimeh find her bearings in Turkey.

Refugees access economic opportunities through social enterprises (22/03/2017)

A project aimed at strengthening economic opportunities for Syrians under Temporary Protection, as well as host communities, is utilising social enterprises to create economic opportunities, and to increase inclusion of refugee women. Financed by the EU and implemented by the World Bank, the project has helped establish four women-led social cooperatives, has created over one hundred jobs, and contributed to social entrepreneurship in Turkey.

Syrian refugee offers vulnerable people a helping hand (22/03/2017)

“Yardim seven ol” means “be someone who loves helping” in Turkish. This is a mantra that Kevser, a Syrian refugee in Turkey, lives by. She supports vulnerable people in her community by visiting vulnerable households, informing people in need about available resources and referring them to related services when necessary. With the help of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) cash assistance, funded by the EU, which helps over 1.7 million refugees in Turkey meet their basic needs, she has been able to continue offering her services while facing the impact of COVID-19.

Socio-economic support to refugees in Turkey (04/06/2020)

At least one million refugees and host community members benefit from EU socio-economic development projects under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, in cooperation with the government of Turkey. Projects aim to enable refugees and the host community to build skills in line with labour market needs, to increase employability, and to promote entrepreneurship opportunities.