FORTES
FORTES is an Italian non-profit company and resource centre that operates with schools, training institutions and other public and private organisations across Europe to implement educational and professional development based on transnational mobility.
FORTES was established in 2002 in Vicenza and became a social enterprise (ISO 26000) in 2013. Its aim is to act in the fields of education, vocational guidance and training to prevent factors of disease and marginalisation and to promote social, cultural and professional integration. Fortes has also been awarded the "ESC Quality Label” by the National Agency for Youth for the seven-year period 2021 – 2027.
FORTES is alongside young people and adults to integrate education with impactful learning experiences and to support full and informed participation in the EU labour market. The organisation assists and cooperates with institutions and companies across Europe to carry out projects which - through continuous learning - foster respectful and sustainable economic development and strengthen their relationships with the education sector’s stakeholders, thus allowing them to effectively design and implement their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Over the years FORTES has gained broad experience in managing projects in the field of employability at EU level and is currently implementing innovative tools to promote digital and green skills in vocational training and to breaking down barriers to employment for individuals with SEN and disabilities.
FORTES headquarters is in Vicenza, a highly specialised and competitive manufacturing area, mostly made of SMEs and in the Mechatronics, Tanning, Jewellery and Fashion sectors. In the field of Hospitality, Tourism and Cooking, Vicenza is a shining gem in the UNESCO’s list of treasures, with a strong history, art and identity which are reflected in the variety of offers (gastronomy with Mediterranean and regional dishes, itineraries, wellness and welcome, agribusiness and wine).
In the Social field, Vicenza is very active in public and private projects and has a vast and interesting third sector – FORTES is in contact with various co-ops (including the Social Farms) that work in the real market to auto-finance their initiatives and activities towards people with special needs. Furthermore, thanks to the CSR Program, Vicenza is a model of socially responsible management for the enterprises.
Website: https://www.fortes.it/
Facilities
FORTES has two exclusive, fully-equipped operational and residential facilities in the centre of Vicenza, reserved for students and teachers who need accommodation for short periods (from one to four weeks, with the possibility of extension for special needs).
Cleaning and laundry services are guaranteed in both facilities, and there is a periodic inspection of the environment.
The facilities have a fully equipped kitchen with the possibility for guests to prepare their own meals, or alternatively it is possible to request half board with a home catering service.
Foresteria
Two-floors detached house with a garden, equipped with:
- multipurpose room (study/work/meetings)
- two kitchens
- common areas
- 6 double or triple rooms for a total of 16 beds
- 4 bathrooms
Bacheria
In the historic centre, in an area well served by public transport.
The building has 3 floors and is equipped with:
- multi-purpose room (study/work/meetings)
- 8 bedrooms, double or triple, for a total of 20 beds
- 8 bathrooms (each room has its own dedicated bathroom).
Sala polifunzionale
Inside FORTES offices, a room is dedicated to meeting, study or professional development projects.
Andrea Cecchin
Management
Graduated in Sociology, with 25 years of experience as a secondary school teacher and 20 years of experience in EU projects design and management, with special focus on of European mobility projects and strategic partnerships. Director and manager of FORTES Impresa Sociale, he has worked as a consultant for organisations and companies in the field of training and work placement
Silvana Groppo
Management
With a degree in Pedagogy, 25 years of experience as a primary and secondary school teacher, qualified to teach Italian as a foreign language abroad, she is also responsible for managing the CELI Examination Centre for foreigners at FORTES n behalf of the University for foreigners of Perugia. She coordinates the management of European outgoing mobilities organised within ERASMUS+, ESF and regional programmes.
Giorgia Dola
Project design team
Graduated in Law, Executive Master SME and Competitiveness at Università Cattolica, since 2008 she has gained experience in Erasmus-ESF at trade unions and training institutions. Since 2011 she has collaborated in the construction of local and transnational active partnership networks; she deals with EU project design and research and innovation for territorial development, in Italy and abroad.
Marta Michielin
Project design team
For more than 10 years she has been drafting and managing regional and European projects: management, reporting and budgeting, language communication and organisation of related activities (conferences, workshops, seminars, BtoB) participation in transnational meetings with project partners.
Valentina Presa
Project design team
has a European Law Studies background ans was Erasmus in Brussels; an expert in NGO and project applications and management, she has been the Director of the Union of European Federalists until 2020, and she is currently working as Erasmus Project Manager at Fortes Impresa Sociale in Vicenza, Italy.Since 2017 Valentina is the Project Manager of garagErasmus Foundation, managing applications for funding, implementation, follow up and networking for European Projects.
Lucia Galdo
Incoming
After graduating she went abroad to the United Kingdom to work in a foreign country and continue her studies. At the end of a first experience in the customer service sector (tourist sector) she moved to the Caribbean and continued to work in the same sector. Coming back to Italy, she kept working in the customer service sector and then moved on to the foreign commercial sector, buyer, and finally to the training sector with the chamber of commerce and FORTES.
Silvia Rasia
Incoming
Degree in Linguistic and Cultural Mediation and, after working abroad for several years in the tourism and education sectors, in 2016 she moved to FORTES being in charge of welcoming and managing incoming groups. She collaborates in the search for partners with operational marketing activities, organises logistics, accommodation solutions and the monitoring of participants in training activities.
Ilaria Mervisan
Incoming
assistant coordinator of the Incoming projects. At FORTES she supports the coordinator in the accommodation and travel transport organization and management, carries out monitoring and evaluation plans, initial training of the participants, manages and develops relationships and partnerships with foreign sending institutions, supports the administrative department for invoicing. Studies: Master's Degree in Management and Administration. Languages: Italian, English, Spanish.
Francesca Pitton
Outgoing
graduated in International Sciences, Ms Pitton holds a Master in Project management. She contributes to the activities of outgoing mobility programmes, institutional communication and operational marketing.
Oscar Fernandez Gonzalez
Outgoing
joining Fortes with an Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs project, Oscar is now supporting the outgoing department in the field of VET
Paola Roscini
Outgoing
since 2010 she has supported the Management in the technical management, monitoring and evaluation of transnational programmes. She keeps contacts with schools and foreign partners, carrying out information and training activities for students and teachers. She acts as general secretary and reception.
Margherita Loro
Administration
After obtaining her diploma in accountancy, she dedicated several years to the care, education and study support of children and adolescents, also in the form of voluntary work. For the past four years at Fortes, she has been responsible for the operational management of international mobility projects and collaborates with the management for the administrative and accounting management of the company and the projects, with accounting, budgeting and reporting activities.
Stefania Zanella
Communication
Graduated in Sociological Sciences, Strategic and Applied Marketing and Web & Social Media Marketing, since 2017 she has been collaborating in the management of European projects as well as the web dissemination of their results.