Workshops Without Borders
About this good practice
Ateliere Fără Frontiere (Workshops Without Borders) is a NGO with economic activity, that runs socio-professional integration programs aimed at supporting vulnerable adults in rebuilding self-confidence, autonomy, and long-term employability, while also restoring social and family connections. These programs last up to three years, employing people recommended by social service providers in AFF's circular economy and organic agriculture workshops, developing the skills they need to integrate into the conventional labor market.
The activity of the workshops is as following
• educlick – manage electric and electronic waste, refurbish computers and IT WEEE that are offered to schools from less developed areas. Therefore, educlick collects, registers, verifies, and prepares IT WEEE for reuse.
• remesh – upcycling of advertising outdoor materials transformed in promotional materials.
• Farm bio&co – organic agriculture, grow vegetables sold on short chain, from farm to table, directly to consumers.
• logietic – logistic services.
The educlick workshop was the first practice developed by AFF in 2008, offering employment to vulnerable individuals as part of their socio-professional integration program.
Regarding the policymakers, this workshop serves as an example for integration of vulnerable people example and as an option for circular economy industry related with WEEE management and particular for reusing the WEEE (particular the computers, phones and others).
Resources needed
For the educlick workshop, the following resources are required:
• Space for deposit and workplaces
• Environmental permits
• Driver and van
• 1 manager and 3 team job coaches
• 1 social counselor
• Minim 150.000 euro income/year according with the WEEE volumes managed to cover the expenditure
Evidence of success
• Tones of WEEE managed - Approx. 80 tons of reused WEEE, meaning avoid 2mil kg emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• Number of WEEE equipment reused - 4,000 IT equipment per year.
• Financial sustainability.
• Number of vulnerable people hired and in the professional program.
10% of school from Romania received refurbish computers by AFF
Potential for learning or transfer
The Educlick workshop aligns with the EU's circular economy strategy by focusing on WEEE reuse through repair and refurbishment. It demonstrates how producers can improve eco-design by creating longer-lasting products with fewer resources and lower CO₂ impact.
The model can be replicated to create green jobs and establish social enterprises for vulnerable individuals, integrating circular economy principles into local policies. Educlick workshop can be replicated everywhere with the condition to keep the social and environmental values and to be supported financially by authorities on the social part (subsidies for salaries of vulnerable people, public acquisition of reused WEEE, space for activities, promote the activity in the community).
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
South Muntenia Regional Development Agency