EDUCATE FOR INDEPENDENCE

EDUCATE for INDEPENDENCE: A Holistic Approach to Fostering Autonomy and Life Skills for young people aged 15 to 29 with mild-medium intellectual impairment who are not in education, employment, or training

The Educate for Independence project is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by young people aged 15 to 29 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) and have mild to medium intellectual impairments. These young individuals often encounter significant barriers to entering the labor market and achieving an independent, fulfilling life. The primary challenge lies in the rigid, one-size-fits-all nature of existing programs designed for a generic "protected target group," which are not always flexible enough to meet individual needs.

The Educate for Independence initiative introduces an innovative intervention aimed at breaking these barriers by focusing on three critical areas:

1. Outreach to the target group: Connecting with young people who are often overlooked and providing the necessary support.

2. Development of a tailored learning model: Designing education and training programs that cater to the unique needs of each individual.

3. Skills validation and activation in the labor market: Ensuring that the skills acquired are recognized and translated into real-world employment opportunities.​

This project emphasizes the importance of a community-centered approach. Key components include active involvement from social services, local authorities, and the community as a whole. The intervention also seeks to challenge traditional perceptions of caregiving by promoting the deconstruction of the caregiver/assisted person dynamic and instead fostering mutual relationships based on respect and empowerment.

Through Educate for Independence, we aim to enhance the relational assets of young people with intellectual impairments, enabling them to not only access education and employment but also lead independent, satisfying lives.

Coordinating organisation:

Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII (APG23) - Italien

Project partners:

InterAktion - Verein für ein interkulturelles Zusammenleben (Austria)

ASOCIACIÓN BIENESTAR Y DESARROLLO (ABD) - Spanien

CESIE ENTE TERZO SETTORE - Italien

INNOVATION HIVE - Griechenland

Il Ramo società cooperativa sociale (IL RAMO) - Italien

Implementation period: 01.12.2024 - 1.12.2026

Project number: ESF-SI-2023-SKILLS-01-0029

This project was funded with the support of the European Commission. The author is solely responsible for the content of this publication; the Commission is not liable for any further use of the information contained herein.