This project was set after the partner organisations (EURODESK multipliers) recognize the need of introducing and developing non-formal methologies of coaching, as methods to provide career support and guidance among young people (from early ages), from a preparatory stage of support in matter of recognition of own potential and talents, personal development and self-discover; additionally to a sustainable approach (among youth) of career guidance, support and empowerement of young people to develop skills recognized as the ones which unlock individual potential and maximize their performance. As the partners recognized that the formal system of education is, in most part of Europe, based on standards of learning, one method fits all and hard skills learning, then the gap between the learners needs and their interest in understanding their deveopment has grew. The schools are the place where young people spend most of their time; and as recognized, the staff in formal education lack knowledge and methodology to deliver support for young people. This project also recognizes that youth supporters&youth workers are not ready to provide guidance; plus they do not know, most of the times how to involve young people in a learning process of self-development, mostly not making use of non-formal education methodologies, which can be a crucial key for learning in this area and in this stage of life (children and transition from childhood to adulthood). That was the reason the partners gather together - as they recognized this as a cross border issue, which can be worked out to provide impact in youth workers, educators, teachers, young people, pupils and children as well. The project can be summed up this way: A. NEEDS ADDRESSED Orienting is the process by which the person is placed in a position to know himself and the environment to make informed choices in conditions of autonomy, both in the direction of the future scholastic choice and oriented towards the labor market. More often, there is a need for a good orientation which leads to realization rather than frustration and so, it's a tool to prevent early school leaving, drop-out and NEETs. As the research lead us, there is actually carrier guidance programs in IT, PL& SP which are addressed to students and NEETs. These programs are usually adressed for 16+ years old. However, there is a lack on guidance tools to be used before this age. In the face of the ever-increasing number of drop-outs and NEETs and the failure of outgoing career guidance programs, it's very important to start guidance programs before 16 years old, when self-identity is being defined using the self-discovery and self-design mechanisms, through an evolutionary continuum that contributes to building an increasingly defined personal image. B. OBJECTIVES In the light of above considerations, project aims to pursue the following: 1. to create a sustainable practice focused on orientation and didactive method in order to develop self-awareness and self-entrepreneurship in youngsters to reduce NEET problems. 2. to implement orienting behaviors that support youngsters in their individual growth, especially in what concerns maturity: - knowing how to listen/ aknowledge and recognize, or raise awareness on the importance of active listening; - to motivate educational choices to the students in order to stimulate and encourage the development of decision-making autonomy; placing youngsters in situations of cognitive conflict so that they can develop problem-solving strategies on their own. 3. provide theoretical support to teachers for the acquisition of skills to identify resources, needs and difficulties in youngsters; 4. provide theoretical support for the planning of strengthening, development, in-depth analysis, recovery and support in the educational field C. TRANSNATIONAL DIMENSION Investing in orientation activities represents a valuable means through which partners can build capacities and develop innovative ways of connecting nonformal and formal education environment, to the work and improving the skills for labour market through and innovation activities. In promoting efforts in orientation and education. In order to be successful, investments and actions in this area have to develop in aa European citizenship approach, based on tackling of common challenges and for this reason, we rely on collaborative actions. This guidance and awareness of own-development and feeling of self-realization leads to active participation, tolerance and definition of the society in a political, educational and social level; as consequence, leading to a more inclusive society, in which young people are well aware and equipped to understand, develop and work on solutions according to own needs and societal needs, in a holistic approach.
Through the implementation of the project, the partner organisations aimed to: 1) create a sustainable practice focused on orientation and teaching method to develop self-awareness and entrepreneurship among young people in order to reduce NEET problems; 2) to implement guiding behaviours that support young people in their individual development, especially in terms of maturity: - listening/recognition skills and recognising or raising awareness of the importance of active listening, - motivating students to make educational choices in order to stimulate and encourage the development of decision-making autonomy; placing young people in situations of cognitive conflict so that they can develop problem-solving strategies independently; 3) to provide theoretical support to educators in acquiring the skills to identify resources, needs and difficulties in young people; 4) to provide theoretical support in planning for empowerment, development, in-depth analysis, recovery and support in education.
The partners wanted to introduce and develop non-formal coaching methods as a method to provide support and career guidance to young people from the preparatory stage support to recognise their potential, personal development and self-discovery; in addition to a balanced approach (among young people) to career guidance, support and empower young people to develop skills that build their own potential and maximise their performance. As partners recognised that the formal education system in most European countries is based on learning standards, one method for all and learning hard skills, the gap between the needs of students and their interest in understanding their development has grown. Formal education staff lack the knowledge and methods to support young people. Youth workers do not know how to engage young people in the process of self-development, they do not use non-formal education methodologies, which can be crucial for learning in this area and at this stage of life (children and transition to adulthood). The partners identified this as a cross-border issue that could be developed to influence youth workers, teachers, young people, students, children.