A youth-for-youth with disabilities programme creating a whirlwind of activities and jobs
- Solution
- 360° support for access to employment for young persons with disabilities
- Organization
- 100% Handinamique
- Country of Implementation
- France
- Region
- Europe
- Subregion
- Western Europe
- Start Year
- 2010
- First published
- 03.12.2024

Solution details
“Together, we young people with disabilities go further, higher, and stronger for our employment.” Thomas Fauvel, President, 100% Handinamique
Based in Pantin, France, 100% Handinamique (“Disabled”) is a large DPO run by young people with and without disabilities with the aim of supporting their peers in the employment process. Its “360° support” programme is entirely designed and managed by young people with disabilities who use a variety of measures to reach their goals, such as peer mentoring, vocational skills training, networking, and engaging with employers. In 2023, 100% Handinamique had 632 members, and from 2021 to 2024 it helped 150 young people with disabilities to find employment.
Problems Targeted
The period of vocational integration is crucial to avoid the social isolation of people with disabilities, especially among youth.
Solution, Innovation and Impact
100% Handinamique, a large DPO based in Pantin, near Paris, supports young people with disabilities (aged 16 to 35) in vocational training and career planning. Its “360° support” programme, managed exclusively by young people with disabilities, is built on four pillars: inform, prepare, train, and connect. A variety of measures is used, including a series of webinars and workshops, employer trainings, and peer mentoring. Mentorship is central, with mentors under age 35, most of whom have disabilities, sharing experiences and best practices. All mentors first undergo training so as to equip them with the tools needed to guide others effectively. The organization’s activities include DuoDay, a European initiative pairing young people with disabilities with companies for one-day immersion experiences during the annual European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities, held every November. “Hand'immersion”, similar to DuoDay, runs year-round, offering extended immersions of up to one week. Additionally, Handicafés facilitate meetings with recruiters in an accessible setting. By 2023, 100% Handinamique had 632 members, growing 15 to 20 per cent annually and attending 10 to 15 career fairs yearly, thus reaching around 300 young people a year. Between 2021 and 2023, 150 young people with disabilities secured jobs through these initiatives.
Funding, Outlook and Transferability
The project is funded through public subsidies, donations, patronage, contributions from committed companies, and income from services. The annual budget for employment initiatives is around €500,000. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)
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