Page 77 - Guiding-at-risk-youth-through-learning-to-work-Lessons-from-across-Europe

Guiding at-risk youth through learning to work
Lessons from across Europe

guidance services can provide significant support to young people returning to
appropriate education or training after dropping out of school (Resolution of the
Council ..., 2004). In a similar manner, the 2007 Action plan on adult learning
emphasised that second chance opportunities supported by guidance should be
available to those citizens who enter adult age without having a qualification
(European Commission, 2007a). The Education and training 2010 working group
on social inclusion called for an integrated approach to initiatives to detect and
follow up those at risk (European Commission, 2003a). It recommended that
such initiatives should be based on the equality principle (treatment,
opportunities, outcomes) and take into account a wider context of social support
(e.g. social welfare, health, employment).
Member State practice follows the recommendations of the Commission and
its expert working groups. In this chapter, we will review a range of reintegration
measures introduced by the study countries to help at-risk young people
overcome their barriers to participation. These range from short-term solutions for
young people at risk of dropping out, to holistic and innovative alternatives for the
hardest-to-reach groups. Many initiatives have been introduced since the various
recommendations of EU policy papers; however, many mainstream projects were
introduced as pilot initiatives already in the 1990s.
The first part of the chapter is descriptive and illustrates the range of
initiatives introduced by the study countries, including short summaries from
some successful/interesting examples. Further details about these projects can
be found in the Annex. The second part of the chapter is more analytical and
looks at key elements of successful reintegration programmes and the role of
guidance in these approaches.

5.2. Initiatives and support methods

Reintegration initiatives have a common aim, which is to support young people at
risk or those who have already dropped out of education. The wider, social
rationale is to combat social exclusion and marginalisation of school leavers.
However, their more specific objectives vary. Some focus on reintegration to the
formal education system, while others focus on the more direct transition to
employment. These initiatives provide young people with an alternative learning
environment, offer them a chance to regain their self-confidence and develop a
plan for the future, as well as helping them to fill gaps in their knowledge and
skills. All the examples included in this chapter have a strong guidance element.

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