Description
The project "A Different Approach to Equal Opportunities for All Young People" focuses on providing support services to disabled young people across Greece with a goal of vocational rehabilitation and social inclusion. Specifically, the project team, consisting of five members (a psychologist, a communications officer, a sociologist, a volunteer for theatrical play and a volunteer for special education), will visit 200 families in 20 remote areas across Greece: Rhodes, Samos, Chios, Syros, Kalamata, Rethymnon, Mytilini, Kastoria, Komotini, Arta, Kozani, Trikala, Chania, Corfu, Pyrgo, Sparti, Orestiada, Kavala, Drama, Serres. The team of Hellenic Organization for Youth (HOFY) will create the job profile of each young person with disability and will also provide that person and its family with training and information regarding his/her social rights. Then an online social network will be created in order to facilitate the matching between unemployed young people with disabilities and potential companies interested in hiring people with disabilities. Last but not least, information regarding education, rehabilitation centers, institutions and counseling will be offered. The web platform aspires to assist young people with disabilities in locating job opportunities and thus finding access to employment. In addition, the web platform aims to become a social network that will enhance interaction between its members and their families and potential employers, and thus assisting in the social integration of young people with disabilities.
Summary of project results
In Greece, limited employment opportunities are provided to people with disabilities. Most of them are forced to stay at home. At the same time, families have a decisive influence on their children choice – they prefer to keep them at home because they feel that they are better protected that way. It is worth to mention that the Manpower Agency of Greece (OAED) which is the Organisation that handles vocational training, job search assistance, and labor and policy development not even has data on the percentage of unemployed people with disabilities. Under the project “A different approach to equal opportunities for all young people” people with disabilities became visible and their families were familiar to job opportunities and to chances of occupation in general of their children. An on line social network was created which facilitates the matching between unemployed young people with disabilities and potential companies to hire people with disabilities. It also helps to the networking between young people with disabilities and their families. Last but not least counselling services, psychological support, information and networking at home were provided. The social network (atomaenerga.gr) still operates with almost 4.500 visitors. 214 work profiles were created (across Greece) and 62 were published on the website. This project has contributed to the parents understanding of the importance of early intervention, proper care and preparation for a smooth integration into society. It is also of great significance for parents from the first moment they are confronted with the diagnosed disability of their child to know how to deal with the new reality. Unfortunately, only 10% of people with disabilities have worked in the past and 95% are now unemployed. In provincial areas employers have neither the knowledge nor the desire to hire people with disabilities.
Summary of bilateral results