Firstly, we focused on the knowledge and skills of youth workers and partner organizations regarding alternative pathways after high school education, focusing mainly on European opportunities. The idea was to equip them with expertise to guide young people in the exploration and choice of doing a gap year. Another objective was to promote the benefits of taking a gap year. Through activities like job shadowing and interviews with former gappers, we worked to create a network of capable gap year advisors to mentor youths and help them in their process of decision-making. We also aimed to strengthen the connections between schools and gap year/EU organizations. By organizing school meetings and dissemination activities, we had the opportunity to share our project, and consequently what decision-making options students have after 12th grade, helping them in this hard transition. Additionally, we have developed practical tools, including a gap year information template, a map of organizations promoting these kinds of opportunities, and interviews showcasing what are the gap year benefits. These resources were designed to help youngsters navigate and leverage gap year opportunities effectively.
Our consortium has decided to apply for this project with the goal of addressing multiple needs faced by our target groups, primarily aiming to combat the stigma associated with taking a gap year and to emphasize its benefits for personal and professional growth. Nowadays, many youngsters don’t possess any kind of awareness about how a gap year can enhance their skills and open new opportunities, which leads to confusion and limited career options after high school education. The partnership of Gap Year Portugal (AGYP), Europiamo, and Tavo Europa was committed to promoting alternative pathways for youngsters. This project is completely aligned with the mission of our three organizations by providing comprehensive knowledge about post-education opportunities, particularly those offered by the EU. We have also identified a significant need to develop specific tools and resources to support youth workers and organizations in guiding young people effectively. Furthermore, the project aims to improve collaboration between schools and organizations offering gap year opportunities. By strengthening these connections, we aimed to enhance student guidance and broaden their awareness of diverse paths.