IDE Social Hub

(Brussels-style English | Erasmus+ / SALTO Optimised)
Organisation Description

IDE Social Hub is a non-profit organisation based in rural Alentejo (Portugal), operating at the crossroads of social innovation, inclusion, diversity and equity (IDE), with a specific focus on young people with fewer opportunities, including migrants, NEET youth and underrepresented groups in the labour market.

The organisation applies non-formal education, participatory methodologies and social tech approaches to address structural inequalities related to employability, digital access, civic participation and social inclusion, particularly in low-density rural territories facing demographic decline, labour shortages and limited access to opportunities.

IDE Social Hub contributes to the development of inclusive, scalable and policy-relevant practices, aligned with the horizontal priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme, notably Inclusion and Diversity, Digital Transformation, Democratic Participation and Social Sustainability.

Although a recently established organisation, IDE Social Hub is grounded in strong professional expertise and European-level recognition, ensuring the technical capacity, strategic vision and implementation readiness required for effective European cooperation projects.

Thematic Expertise / Fields of Work

- Inclusion and diversity policies

- Youth with fewer opportunities (migrants, NEETs, rural youth)

- Anti-discrimination and intercultural dialogue

- Employability, soft skills and labour market integration

- Digital empowerment and social innovation

- Non-formal education and participatory learning

- Youth participation and active citizenship

-Rural development and territorial cohesion

Organisational Experience

IDE Social Hub designs and contributes to activities such as:

- Development and facilitation of non-formal learning activities focused on inclusion, employability and digital skills

- Community-based initiatives addressing social exclusion in rural and peripheral areas

- Organisation and moderation of learning spaces, dialogues and public discussions on inclusion, equity and social innovation

- Co-creation of methodological tools, guidelines and good practices for inclusive participation and labour market access

- Cooperation with civil society organisations, municipalities, private-sector actors and European networks

- The organisation seeks to contribute to Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 projects as a technical and content-driven partner, and to progressively take coordination roles in future funding cycles.

Leadership and Key Person

Elisangela Souza – Founder & Project Lead

Elisangela Souza is a recognised social innovation and inclusion leader with extensive experience in diversity, equity and social entrepreneurship.

Key credentials include:

- Top 100 Social Entrepreneurs in Europe – Euclid Network

- Ambassador at Web Summit Lisbon 2025, contributing to high-level discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion within the technology and innovation ecosystem

- Invited by EU public institutions in Portugal to participate in institutional visits and policy dialogues in Brussels, contributing to exchanges on inclusion, social innovation and diversity

- Speaker, moderator and facilitator at national and international events on social inclusion, digital transformation and equity

- Academic background in Communication and Project Management, with long-standing experience working with underrepresented communities

- Her profile ensures strong policy awareness, European alignment and practical implementation capacity, mitigating the risks typically associated with early-stage organisations.

Added Value for European Partnerships

- IDE Social Hub offers European partners:

- Strong alignment with Erasmus+ inclusion and diversity priorities

- Expertise in working with migrant and rural youth

- Innovative social tech and participatory methodologies

- Access to rural territories and hard-to-reach communities

- High-quality communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement

- Commitment to long-term European cooperation and policy relevance

Interested in Cooperation Within

- Erasmus+ KA1 Youth (Youth Exchanges, Youth Participation Activities)

- Erasmus+ KA2 Small-scale Partnerships (KA210-YOU / KA210-ADU)

- Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation Partnerships (KA220-YOU / KA220-ADU / KA220-VET)