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Description
The percent of NEET (not in employment neither in education or training) teenagers has reached approximately 20% in Romanian rural areas, according to Social Trends 2019, a study of National Institute of Statistics (INS). Most of the high school graduates from rural areas do not find a job and leave the country to become unskilled workers. The project aims to eliminate the gap between possibilities offered to teenagers in rural areas in comparison with urban areas, to increase the social inclusion of those living in insufficiently served rural areas and the chance of employment for them in a modern and changing labour market. Among the beneficiaries are students from the XII class in rural high schools in the counties of Botosani, Iasi and Vaslui. 80 graduates with good grades will be selected, graduates who come from families in need. Upon completion of the XII grade, specialized IT courses will be held with the experts of the Association for IT Education, the partner in the project, at the end of which the students will receive a degree recognized by the Ministry of Education. The IT course will be specially customized by the partner’s experts so that the selected high school graduates could understand and approach it, giving them a real chance to be perfectly eligible for becoming employed. Because women represent 60% of the inactive Romanian population (according to INS), beneficiaries will be 45 girls and 35 boys. For the cases where beneficiaries do not have IT equipment (laptops, tablets) or Internet access, the project stipulates purchasing equipments to the selected beneficiaries. After attending the IT course, as part of the project, graduates will benefit from career guidance classes where they will be taught to write a CV, where they can apply for a job, which are companies that search employees with their new competences. The association will support the graduates to apply for new jobs.
Summary of project results
The project approached the problem of inclusion for high school graduates in rural areas f Iasi, Botosani, and Vaslui counties offering them an IT course to increase their chances of entering nowadays labor market.
The project involved several key activities. The IT course organization phase included the selection of candidates through visits to targeted high schools, identifying those who had passed the baccalaureate exam, and finalizing contracts with selected participants. The course itself was meticulously monitored, with a timetable established, mentors involved, students divided into two groups, and regular evaluations conducted. The program concluded with a final test to assess the participant’s knowledge and skills. Professional orientation sessions were also provided, allowing graduates to engage with HR specialists experienced in recruiting candidates for the IT sector, thereby bridging the gap between education and employment opportunities.
In addition to supporting participants, the project focused on organizational development. Two members of the association completed project management courses, while others attended training sessions on writing proposals to secure funding. The association''s website was upgraded, and eight video materials were created to showcase its mission and objectives, with each video tailored to one of Moldova’s eight counties.
A total of 84 participants successfully enrolled in the program. Among these, 41 participants graduated and obtained diplomas officially recognized by the Labor and Education Ministries. Following the program, all participants attended professional counseling sessions, thus equipping them with recognized qualifications and professional guidance tailored to the demands of the IT sector. For the organization, the project enhanced its capacity for managing and acquiring funding for future initiatives.