There are young people who reach a point where they simply stop – school no longer interests them, they struggle to find a job, or they cannot see a clear direction for where to go next or what to do with their lives. At such a moment, it is important to have someone by your side who will listen and help you overcome difficulties. The aim of the project is not only to help young people develop practical skills for life, but, more importantly, to give them the confidence that they can overcome challenges and succeed.
For the past ten years, young people in Rēzekne have been receiving this kind of support through the European Union co-funded “PROTI un DARI!” project, implemented by the Youth International Programme Agency (JSPA), and its continuation, “PROTI un DARI 2.0”, implemented by the municipal Social Service.
The project is aimed at young people aged 15 to 29 who are not in education, employment or registered with the State Employment Agency as unemployed, as well as young people at risk of early school leaving. Before joining the project, the latter group is aged 15 to 17, has not completed basic education and has been continuously absent from an educational institution and not participating in education for at least four weeks.
There are many different reasons why these young people find themselves in a difficult situation. Often, they have not completed their studies, lack work experience and motivation, or do not feel ready to make changes in their lives, leave home, study, work, communicate with others or take part in different activities. The group includes young mothers, young people from low-income or socially disadvantaged families, as well as young people with disabilities or health problems, addiction issues and other challenges.
“Many of these young people have dropped out of education and do not know how to find employment or present themselves in the labour market. They simply lack encouragement,” says Anita Batare, Head of the Support Department at the Rēzekne Social Service.
Each young person receives individual support during their participation in the project. A specialist listens to their life story, helps them assess their situation and needs, and together they develop an individual activity plan. Young people are offered a range of free activities, including opportunities to explore different working environments and professions, work placements, individual and group consultations with psychologists, career counsellors and other specialists, as well as many other activities.
The programme also includes non-formal learning and personal development activities, such as setting goals, planning, learning about labour and social rights, and preparing CVs and motivation letters.
“Working with a young person starts with a conversation. Not a formal questionnaire, but a genuine, human conversation that becomes a starting point and gives them the courage to try to write their own successful life story,” says Anita Batare.
There are many ways to build trust with young people, and one good practice in Rēzekne is to come together and prepare a meal. “Young people really enjoy the sense of togetherness that comes from preparing and sharing food. It is a way to bring them together and open their hearts and minds,” says Anita Batare.
For example, during one of the activities, a group of six to eight young people prepared chicken schnitzels together, chopped cabbage and dill for a salad, baked potatoes in the oven and made carrot cupcakes for dessert.
“When young people have eaten, they become more open. Having a full stomach makes it easier to think about problems and talk about them. We talk about doubts, fears and insecurity, and together we look for ways to overcome them,” explains Anita Batare.
Once they join the project, young people can try out different fields and take part in practical activities, such as photography courses, introductory floristry classes and other programmes. Learning to operate agricultural machinery is particularly popular among young men, as are financial literacy activities focused on budgeting and managing money. Communication skills are also developed through simulations and practical exercises.
Throughout the project, each young person receives at least 20 hours of mentoring support per month. The total amount of activities and support provided is at least 48 hours per month.
Although beauty-related skills, such as manicure and make-up courses, are particularly popular among young women, young people are also interested in video editing, while others discover an interest in cooking and culinary arts.
However, the main challenge is often not a lack of skills, but a lack of self-confidence.
“There was a young woman who had trained as a manicurist, but she was too shy to talk to clients, so she was unable to find a job. We worked with her and looked for ways to overcome her insecurity, and eventually she found a job. That is one of the things that gives us the greatest satisfaction,” says Anita Batare.
There are also young people who are initially unwilling to participate at all.
“There were two young people who did not want to study anything after finishing basic school. But after taking part in the activities, they became interested and eventually decided to train as cooks,” she adds.
These examples show how important it is to give young people the opportunity to try, make mistakes and explore different possibilities, so that each of them can find a life path that suits them.
Since 2016, 246 young people in Rēzekne have participated in the “PROTI un DARI!” project. Under the “PROTI un DARI 2.0” project, which will continue until the end of 2027, another 76 young people are expected to take part. Importantly, young people can participate in the project in Rēzekne regardless of their declared place of residence – the opportunity is open to young people from across Latvia.
The “PROTI un DARI!” and “PROTI un DARI 2.0” projects of the Youth International Programme Agency (JSPA) are co-funded by the European Union. They help young people develop skills, identify a professional direction and successfully enter the labour market or return to education. Participants receive individual support, develop practical skills and gain motivation for further personal and professional growth.
More information about the project is available on the Youth International Programme Agency website.
This story was produced with support from EU funds.
