In May 2024, a successful Erasmus+ project titled "Brainery for Workers Primarily Working with Disadvantaged Youth" took place in the Czech Republic. This project was initiated by Brainery Prosocial from Slovakia in collaboration with their Czech partner, the Multicultural Center Brusinka.
The aim of the project was to enhance the qualifications of workers who primarily deal with disadvantaged youth. The seminar was tailored so that, upon its completion, 20 workers from community centers, children's homes, educational care centers, and re-education centers in Slovakia or the Czech Republic would be able to apply the acquired knowledge, thereby contributing to the development of soft skills in young people. It is crucial for young people to learn better and more effectively, gain higher emotional and mental resilience in a world full of changes, integrate better into life, and succeed in the job market. Additionally, this information is beneficial for youth workers themselves, whose work often involves social and emotional stress.
Young people are the future of society, but for many, the path to success can be challenging. Besides external factors such as social conditions and economic environment, it is also important to consider their inner world, including the hormonal cocktail that affects their mood, behavior, emotional state, motivation, self-confidence, social interactions, and perception of the world around them. Understanding hormonal changes and their impact can help create a supportive and inclusive environment for young people.
It is essential to offer a wide range of activities and support to help young people in their personal and professional development: mentoring and career counseling, educational, entrepreneurial, and innovation programs, language and creative courses, trips, sports and physical activities, involvement in volunteer activities and social projects, and mental health support. The key is to provide young people with diverse opportunities and support to help them develop their potential and achieve success in all areas of their lives.
At the Multicultural Center Brusinka, which has a safe and open space in Brno, we provide courses, workshops, and lectures. In the future, we hope to start groups where young people can share their experiences and problems. These shared experiences strengthen feelings of belonging and community support.
From our experience with young people from various minorities living in the South Moravian Region, including children of foreigners, refugees, migrants, and children who have difficulties with education, integration into society, and employment, we find that such support provides a space for expressing feelings and gaining advice from both peers and professionals.
Another example is our collaboration with local schools in organizing multicultural and language workshops. Thanks to individual support and adaptation of the educational plan in all activities, we can see improvements in young people's results and self-confidence, which is a great motivation for our team. In our opinion, shared experiences very effectively strengthen feelings of belonging and support in the community.
At the same time, we are gradually trying to launch the DofE project, which focuses on skills, physical activity, and volunteering for people aged 14-24. It is an opportunity for professional development, but also a space for meeting, forming friendships, and mutual support. In our view, it is important to enable the involvement of children from children's homes, socially disadvantaged, or handicapped children in such meaningful programs.
Furthermore, we plan to collaborate more with local businesses and organizations to secure job opportunities for disadvantaged young people. These opportunities provide valuable experience and boost their confidence and independence.
Every organization that aims to contribute to guiding youth towards success and integration into the job market and life faces the following challenges:
Development of skills and abilities:
Development of critical thinking and problem-solving
Development of entrepreneurship
Support for personal development and self-confidence
Discovery and development of talents
Financial literacy
Support for interpersonal relationships and communication:
Need for developing social relationships
Explanation of the functioning and importance of empathy and emotional intelligence
Involvement of family and community
Raising awareness about the importance of tolerance and respect for diversity
Safety and health:
Conflict resolution
Addressing addiction
Prevention of marginalization
Prevention of exploitation
Relaxation and stress-relief techniques, including breathing exercises
Inclusive environment and diversity:
Creating an inclusive educational environment
Adapting educational plans to meet the needs of each individual
Support for diversity and inclusivity
Adaptation and integration into cultural and social conditions
Promoting equal opportunities and combating discrimination
Employment support and digital literacy:
Creating job opportunities
Improving digital literacy
Financial constraints:
Lack of resources
We believe that projects like Erasmus+ "Brainery for Workers Primarily Working with Disadvantaged Youth" represent an important step towards strengthening support for young people in their personal and professional development. A key part of this process is fostering empathy and openness to the needs and challenges that young people face.
The Multicultural Center Brusinka offers a wide range of activities and support for young people to help them grow personally and professionally. From educational programs to mental health support, our organization strives to provide an environment where young people feel supported and respected.
We believe that the collective efforts of communities, organizations, and individuals can lead to the creation of an environment where young people have the opportunity to develop their potential and achieve success in all areas of their lives.
Thank you for reading this article and for your support in our efforts to help young people reach their goals and dreams.
Author: Mgr. Viktoria Netíková
Editor: Mgr. Nela Merva
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