Partners of the EU-funded project “Connecting the Dots – Enhancing the Employability of NEETs from the LGBTI Communities in Bulgaria and Lithuania” gathered in Sofia on 17–18 March at the Rainbow Hub for a two-day mid-progress meeting. Marking the halfway point of this 24-month initiative, the workshop brought together all four partner organizations to reflect on achievements so far and plan the road ahead.
About the project
Launched in November 2024 and coordinated by the National LGBT Rights Organization LGL, Connecting the Dots unites four partners across two countries: LGL andLithuanian Diversity Charter Association (LDCA(Lithuania), the Bilitis Resource Center Foundation and GLAS Foundation (Bulgaria). Together, they are working to dismantle the systemic barriers LGBTI young people face when entering the labour market and to connect 120 LGBTI youth who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) with supportive employers and career development opportunities.
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund+ Social Innovation Initiative and follows a three-pronged approach: building LGBTI-inclusive employment services, empowering participants through personalized career development, and creating a bridge to employment through partnerships with inclusive employers.
A strong first year
By the time partners met in Sofia, a solid foundation had already been laid across both countries. Two work packages, Project Management & Design Thinking and Communication & Dissemination, had been fully completed, while recruitment, career orientation, and employer engagement activities were in full swing. Highlights from the first year include:
- 60+ LGBTI NEETs engaged and receiving support across Bulgaria and Lithuania
- 20+ social partners brought on board, including major employers in Lithuania such as Danske Bank, Telia, Oxylabs, SEB Bank, IKEA, EY and IBM, collectively offering 39 positions across IT, HR, communications, legal, finance, and customer service
- The largest LGBTI Workplace Inclusion Conference in Lithuania, organized by LGL during Baltic Pride, with 150 participants
- Business breakfasts, career days and a Diversity Bazaar in Bulgaria, hosted by GLAS in partnership with EY, IBM, EBRD and the Work It OUT network
- LGBTI Inclusive Job Interview Guide, a practical toolkit for employers covering inclusive interview processes, bias mitigation, and the STARL competency-based model
- A communication reach of 50,000+ on social media, 7,500+ readers through press coverage, and 80+ participants in training sessions for employers and public officials
Two days of reflection and planning in Sofia
Day one of the Sofia meeting opened with a project mid-progress overview, followed by experience sharing and a deep dive into the key challenges encountered so far. Partners then moved into a series of design thinking sessions, defining challenges, ideating, and developing solutions, structured around the methodology that has guided the project from the start.
Day two built on this work with an evaluation of proposed solutions, further concept development, and strategic alignment discussions. The meeting closed with a concrete action plan and updates to the project’s implementation roadmap for Year 2.
Looking ahead
With the foundation firmly in place, the partnership is now focused on converting early momentum into lasting outcomes. Year 2 will center on scaling inclusive hiring practices beyond the current employer network, ensuring the support systems built for LGBTI NEETs continue beyond the funding period, and capturing the transnational model in a final Lessons Learned report.
The meeting took place under the framework of the project “Connecting the Dots: Enhancing the employability of NEETs from the LGBTI communities in Bulgaria and Lithuania” (ESF-SI-2023-SKILLS-01-0086), funded by the ESF+ Social Innovation Initiative of the European Union.
