The Day After - Training and support for youth served in residential care institutions for the day after reaching the age of majority

Background Adolescence confronts young people on their way to adulthood with a new momentous stage, that of their access to the labour market. In all cases, access to the world of employment provides them with new responsibilities as citizens, and at the same time provides them with economic autonomy to develop their life project. While entering the labour market is difficult for everyone, it is especially so in countries with the highest youth unemployment rates, and it is particularly complex and even an impossible mission for youth living in juvenile centres. These, upon reaching the age of majority, are generally forced to leave the reception centre, unlike what happens with those who still live with their family. And in this situation, insertion in the labour market is even more complex for young people of migrant origin. These young migrants are cared for under international law by the Child and Adolescent Protection System. But when they reach the age of 18, they suddenly enter a situation of multiple obstacles to their integration, which can lead to their exclusion or expulsion. For this reason, the “The Day After” Project (DAF Project) has developed a training model aimed at young people at risk of social exclusion between the ages of 16 and 18 – migrant people or disadvantaged natives - cared for in residential facilities or shelters for minors under the System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in the participating European countries. The aim of this training model is to promote the acquisition of key competences to favour the transition from adolescence / youth to adulthood and facilitate access to the labour market. Objectives The DAF Project has sought to achieve a real social and labour inclusion of young people who live in the Residential Care Institutions (RCI) with fewer opportunities and at risk of exclusion - of migrant origin or disadvantaged natives - to facilitate their transition to adulthood. Its objectives are: - Provide necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes, both personally and professionally, for accessing the labour market to young people living in RCI; - Establish a training curriculum and an internship itinerary including a specific module aimed at young migrants; - Improve socio-educational intervention with young people living in RCI through training workshops and internships in workplaces for their incorporation into the labour market. Implementation Between 2021 and 2022, The DAF Project partners developed the following outputs: - A reference guide for the social and labour integration of young people under protection: it will include a reference framework on the situation in the participating countries, as well as the definition of personal and professional skills needed to promote their access to the labour market. - A training curriculum and internship itinerary in work centres -validated through a training pilot test- to promote the transition to adult life of young people under protection (with a modality especially aimed at migrant minors). - The implementation of the theoretical-practical workshops (pilot courses) by each participating organization in order to validate the Training Curriculum Training curriculum and internship itinerary for youth leaving protected environments. Achievements - Reference Guide for Social and Labour Inclusion of young people living under protection. - Training curriculum and internship itinerary for youth leaving protected environments. - Final evaluation report of training workshops (pilot courses) in the participating countries. Through the development and results of the project, youth employment will be fostered by establishing synergies between the professionals of the shelters for minors (eg directors, educators, integrators), social, educational organisations and the Public Administration involved in the care of minors in such facilities.