Youth work for career management with different abilities’ youngsters

"<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the critical need for comprehensive career management education, especially following the significant impacts of the 2008 financial crisis and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. These events notably intensified unemployment rates among young individuals, who are at crucial stages of career development and often lack the skills and orientation necessary for sustained professional growth. Additionally, common shifts towards new operational trends demand continual skill development, posing challenges for youth uncertain of their career paths. Developing educational approaches on career management was the core of this project, hence the project partners gathered to develop new methods to address the needs and constrains of their target group – youngsters and young adults with different abilitiesThis project addressed these needs and gaps by empowering youth, particularly those with disabilities, who face heightened barriers to employment and social inclusion. Through innovative educational methods and cross-sectoral approaches, we aimed to equip young people and youth workers with effective career management tools, enhancing their ability to navigate and succeed in the evolving job market.<< Objectives >>With this project, we aimed that our beneficiaries, youth with disabilities, to improve their skills of career management, and we also aimed to empower more youth workers for organising adequate career orientation, planning and development programmes, in line with the newest updates and cross-sectoral approach. Specific objectives of the project were:•Empower youngsters with disabilities for quality career management through development of inspiring, innovative and up-to-date handbook, as well as the online course.•Empower our youth workers and improve knowledge management of our organisations for building competences of educators in career management for youth with disabilities, through LTTA, innovative curriculum and useful toolkit with workshops for beneficiaries.•Exchange good practices and further develop quality strategic partnership among partners from 5 European countries with different realities in regards to career management possibilities and realities.<< Implementation >>The project consisted of the following activities:•Project Management processes and activities throughout the whole project. •M1 - kick-off meeting in Zagreb, HR - hosted by Domas•O1 - Handbook - lead Domas, Iteccion, OTB. Produced in 6 languages.•M2 - second meeting in Modena, IT – hosted by LINK DMT•O2 - Curriculum - lead LINK DMT, CNELL, OH. Produced in 6 languages.•M3 - third meeting in Novi Sad – hosted by CNELL•O3 - Toolkit - lead CNELL, Realization, OH. Produced in 6 languages.•M4 - fourth meeting in Zagreb – hosted by Realization•O4 - E-learning course - lead Domas, LINK DMT, Realization. Produced in 6 languages.•C1 - LTTA - Training for trainers in Serbia - hosted by Iteccion•E1 – National conference and workshop – Novi Sad, RS by CNELL + iteccion•E2 – National conference and workshop – Modena, IT by LINK DMT•E3 – National conference and workshop – Zagreb, HR by Realization + Domas•E4 – National conference and workshop – Hannover, DE by OH•E5 – International conference and workshop – Brussels, BE by OTB•M5 – Final evaluation meeting – Online, hosted by OH<< Results >>Intellectual Outputs developed:-O1 Handbook ""Exploring Youth work for career management with different abilities' youngsters"": This innovative publication serves as a crucial resource for youth workers and young adults with disabilities, providing up-to-date information and tools needed for effective career management. It is developed as a foundational theoretical and conceptual resource for further empowerment within this field.-O2 Curriculum ""Empowering youth workers for quality youth work for career management with different abilities’ youngsters"": This curriculum has been used to organise a comprehensive 7-day training course, equipping youth workers with the skills needed to support career management for youngsters and young adults with disabilities in both online and offline settings.-O3 Toolkit ""Mentoring and supporting youngsters with different abilities for career planning and management"": The toolkit, comprising general concepts, recommendations, and a series of workshops, directly aids youth workers in enhancing the career management competences of their beneficiaries.-O4 E-learning course ""Career planning and management course for youngsters with different abilities"": This e-learning course extends the reach of our project, making career management tools accessible to individuals and communities across Europe, regardless of their ability to attend in-person training.All intellectual outputs are produced in English and translated into partners' national languages (FR, DE, IT, HR & RS), enhancing accessibility and user-friendliness.Other results of the project:•A support of competence development of 18 staff and youth trainers through the LTTA. These individuals are now better equipped to deliver effective training aligned with our intellectual outputs.•23 multipliers from partner organisations (youth workers, adult educators, volunteers and management staff – 4-5 from each country) were using our intellectual outputs in their work with at least 70 beneficiaries (10-15 per country) and testing their effectiveness locally both personal and on organisational level (related to the application of the outputs on our organisations’ procedures and practices when organising such education activities).•Additional 178 youngsters with fewer opportunities were empowered through dissemination efforts by community leaders and partnerships with local organisations across five countries. They had the chance to test the online course, benefiting from its content and support.•Empowered 117 multipliers in 5 countries through the multiplier events, which have significantly enhanced the capabilities of local youth workers to promote effective career management for youngsters and young adults with disabilities.The project results were two-fold: (1) the development of publications and resources that provide quality non-formal education about career management tailored to the needs of youngsters with disabilities; (2) the creation of an online course that extends educational opportunities to those unable to attend physical events or previously unreached by our efforts. These outcomes have not only impacted our organisations and current beneficiaries but have also enabled us to reach new groups, contributing to a larger and more effective impact across our communities and Europe-wide."