Description
Romania has the highest percentage of young jobless people and the highest proportion of children and youth not enrolled in any form of schooling (23%) among the EU countries. Young people in rural areas and those receiving child protection services are most exposed to this risk. The project aims to promote a model of integrated services for young people from disadvantaged groups. The project addresses youth from rural areas and youth in the child protection system in the counties of Sibiu, Bacau, Ilfov and Bucharest. The main objective of the project is providing integrated services for a total of 225 young people, through measures which will improve their life skills and chances to be integrated in the labour market. The project focuses on networking at local and county level, on mobilizing existing resources among authorities, communities and young people and responding to locally identified needs.
Summary of project results
The project main goal was to promote a model of integrated services for young people from the child protection system. The project was implemented in 3 counties (Sibiu, Bacau, Ilfov) and Bucharest and the target group was represented by adolescents and professionals. In order to enhance the impact of the project, the promotor had received additional funds through PLUS and the promotor had implemented supplementary activities. SOS Children Village Norway was partner in the project and it facilitate an exchange of best practices with the promotor. The promotor developed during the project implementation a very good partnership with public authorities and with departments of child protection. It was signed 16 collaboration agreements compared with 9 estimated. This conducted to increased project direct beneficiaries from 245 to 285 young people. The beneficiaries benefited of the following services: vocational and psychological counselling, English classes, educational trips/ summer camp and participated to different information session such as financial education, health, personal development, entrepreneurial skills. The project facilitated a better integration of the young people in community and increase their ability to adapt in different environment. In order to provide specialized services to beneficiaries, the promotor obtained certification in professional counselling and training at organizational level. A number of 99 experts from public authorities was certificated in vocational counselor, community facilitator, parenting specialist. The project may be seen as a model of improving cooperation between civil society and institutions active in the field of child protection.
Summary of bilateral results
Within the project, the partner from Donor States was SOS Children's Villages Norway. It was not the only project in which SOS Norway was partner, the collaboration with SOS Children's Villages Romania started with a visit within the bilateral relationship component of the NGO Fund and continued as a partner in 3 projects, including this one. Within this project, the partner was involved both in providing the necessary co-financing for the project, as well as by organizing a study visit to Norway for 15 specialists from Romania. It was a good opportunity to meet representatives of other NGOs, institutions and public authorities, as well as private companies active in the field. PP will continue the collaboration with SOS Norway in the future. In addition, it will continue the efforts to bring at least the ART method to Romania. "