Title: Preparation and Empowerment of young people leaving Care Institutions - Now What
Reference: 2017-3-RO01-KA205-047117
Duration: 01/03/2018-29/02/2020
Programs: ERASMUS +
The main goal of the project "NOW WHAT?" is to support young people leaving care institutions to develop the best of their potential. The project will provide support to young people aged 16-19 who are either in care or have recently left care institutions. The project focuses on increasing the capacities of young people in various fields such as: housing, training, financial and legal support, employment and social inclusion. It is expected that at the end of the project, the young people participating in the project's activities will increase their autonomy, and develop life skills for an independent life.
Specific objectives:
- The project is based on the idea that investing in sufficient resources, and acquiring basic life skills for young people leaving care institutions is one of the most important components for success and independence after care.
- Develop and undertake a comprehensive strategy to better enable children in care to ensure improvements in their educational, social and economic outcomes. Preparation for leaving care will provide young people with opportunities for planning, problem solving and learning new skills.
- Development of personal and personal skills such as budgeting, time management, health, nutrition, hygiene and conflict resolution
Main components of the project:
- Product 1: Analysis of the needs of young people leaving care. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the needs of young people who leave care, the difficulties and challenges they face during the transition process and the adequacy of services and providers in supporting and meeting the needs.
- Product 2: Development of training materials and curriculum. The goal is to create a Life Skills training curriculum that will help youth leaving care to build relationships and develop skills that strengthen their capacities for better functioning in the community.
- Product 3: Mentoring Component. The goal is to design and structure the mentoring component. The mentoring component will provide young people leaving care institutions with the support of an individual adult with whom they will have the opportunity to develop an individual plan that will cover elements of accommodation, education, financial and personal needs.
- Product 4: Life Skills Workshops. The workshops aim to train young people to prepare them for an independent life after leaving care institutions.
- Product 5: Plans after Care. These plans will help young people leaving institutions to develop a stronger sense of self and identity. The plans serve to help young people to increase their self-confidence and skills to lead an independent life and to better plan for the responsibilities they now have to take on as adults.
- Product 6: European standards package. The conclusions and results of the project will be collected in a document to be applied in other cultural environments or other national contexts. The purpose of this activity is to provide a product that includes the methodology and process of removing young people from care institutions so that this practice can then be implemented in other European countries.
Main partner: Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara, Romania
Partners:
- University of Tirana;
- SOS SATELE Copiilior Association Romania;
- General Directorate of Social Assistance as Protecta Copilului, Timis;
- Cofac Cooperativa de Formacao e Animacao Cultural CRL, Portugal;
- Associacao de Amigos da Crianca e da Familia Chao das Meninos, Portugal;
- Athens Lifelong learning Institute Greece;
- To Hamogelo Tou Paidiou, Greece;
- SOS Children Villages, Albania