THE DAY AFTER PROJECT

Confronting adult life without public protectionYouth leaving protected environmentsYouth under protection come of ageYouth in protection services reaching adulthood

ABOUT

“The Day After” Project (DAF Project) seeks to develop a training model aimed at young people at risk of social exclusion cared for in residential facilities or shelters for minors under the System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents. 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.

CONTEXT

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.

TARGET GROUP

The project directly targets a services and residential care institutions for minors under protection, youth workers and local governments, which directly work with young people with fewer opportunities and at risk of exclusion -of migrant origin or disadvantaged native-  who reaching adulthood in protection services.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

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 development of training and practical workshops in work centres aiming for social and labour integration. A final report will be prepared on the implementation of the theoretical-practical workshops (pilot courses) in the four participating countries to validate the training program and the itinerary of practices.

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.