The project “Skills4Life – Supporting the socio-economic integration of young people leaving child protection systems by developing their skills and capacities, through more inclusive transition policies in the Danube Region” is funded under Call 2 of the Danube Region Programme , Priority Axis 3 – A more social Danube Region, Specific Objective 3.2: Accessible and inclusive quality services in education, training and lifelong learning.
The main objective of the project is to improve support policies for young people leaving the child protection system in the Danube region and to develop an educational program for them, which includes the development of personal skills necessary for integration into the labor market, including mentoring programs.
Specific objectives:
- Innovative training program for young people leaving the special child protection system
- Inclusive policies to support the transition to independent living (“Skills4Life”) for young people leaving the special child protection system
- Pilot actions for the integration of young people from child protection systems into the labor market
Project implementation period : 01.04.2025 – 31.03.2028
Total project budget 1,984,010.59 euro.
Project consortium
The project is implemented by a consortium of 12 partners from 9 countries in the Danube region, coordinated by the South-Muntenia Regional Development Agency. The partners include universities, development agencies, non-governmental organizations and adult education institutions, each bringing valuable expertise to achieve the project objectives.
Partners:
- South Muntenia Regional Development Agency – Romania – Project Leader
- The Argeș County Businessmen Association – Romania
- European Development Agency – Czech Republic
- Ipcenter.at – Austria
- Lviv Bureau of European Integration – Ukraine
- University of Maribor – Slovenia
- Advanced Technology Systems – Romania
- Callidus Institution for Adult Education – Croatia
- Educational Training Center for professional and working skills – Serbia
- Zenica Development Agency ZEDA Ltd. – Bosnia and Herzegovina
- South-West University “Neofit Rilski” – Bulgaria
- Austrian Young Workers Movement – Austria
Main results of the project:
By implementing this project, the partners and stakeholders involved aim to actively contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for the social and professional integration of young people leaving the child protection system, to reduce the risk of social exclusion and to support their transition to an independent life, with equal opportunities on the labor market.
The main results of the project include:
- Danube Skills4Life Strategy – A long-term strategy that provides a sustainable and coordinated approach for the social and professional integration of young people in the child protection system.
- Danube Skills4Life Action Plan – Nine customized action plans, one for each partner country, which will be tested within the project to support the implementation of the strategy.
- Skills4Life Training Program – A tested and improved training program designed to develop life skills and employability for vulnerable youth.
- Skills4Life digital platform – An innovative, validated platform that provides young people with access to resources, information and support for integration.
- The Skills4Life Mentoring and Counseling Model – An innovative, collaboratively developed and tested model that provides individualized support for young people in transition to independent living.
- Skills4Life Support Methodology – A common framework for implementing youth integration policies, based on lessons learned from pilot actions carried out in partner countries.
Project impact
Skills4Life aims to reduce the social marginalization of young people leaving child protection systems, contributing to their active inclusion in the labor market and society. The project will have a long-term impact, creating a replicable model of support and socio-professional integration across the Danube region.
This is an important step to strengthen inclusive policies and support vulnerable groups in the transition to independent living.
We invest in skills, support and opportunities – so that no young person is left behind.
We invite you to visit the project page and subscribe: Skills4Life | Skills4Life
