About the project

The FSPSL-OES (From School to Professional and Social Life in an Open European Space) Grundtvig Partnership reacts to a bad situation at European labour markets concerning youth unemployment which often correlates with social exclusion. On that ground, the partnership aims to strength the links between European educational systems, the labour markets and the civil society, in order to ensure better integration of young people (16-25 years) in professional and social life.

Project partners - institutions and organisations from different EU countries involved in diverse fields of the social, educational and economic life of their communities decided to work together in order to share experience and good practices on the aspects of youth unemployment and its connection to social exclusion as well as on ways how to combat them.

To perform relevant results, following actions will be set up:

• analysis and comparison of educational systems and labour markets;
• organisation of seminars, conferences, public debates and campaigns;
• organization of national and international dialogues.

Partners will be also providing training workshops focused on young people in order to support them in acquiring new skills and competencies that are necessary for their integration into the labour market and the society.

Background

Europe of today has recently passed through a big change comparable to the Industrial Revolution. During last decades people in many European countries gained more freedom to choose different styles of life but the responsibility for building their own lives goes hand in hand with the liberty. The modern life offers larger chances and options, but also risks and incertitude. Moreover, the change phenomenon often involves negative phenomena, such as: poverty, unemployment, corruption, delinquency, violence, illiteracy, early school failure and abandon. Regrettably, also young learners/target groups (16-25 years) are confronted with these problems. They suffer from lack of information concerning the labour market and its opportunities in their country and/or in Europe as well as they combat with low interest of employers.

In modern societies paid work is not only the principal source of income and therefore is connected to necessaries of life, but it is also the fount of individuals' identity and self-worth feeling. Therefore the social exclusion can appear when youngsters can’t find a job which can result not only in material and social but even psychological problems. Very often the employability depends on applicant’s competencies, skills and knowledge that are together with attitudes acquired during the lifelong learning process.  However, many times young people leave the educational system without key competencies, such as: communication skills, ability to communicate in foreign languages and practical skills/professional experience that are most required by employers. This is the key area to work on within this partnership.