Project learning for young adults (PLYA)

Practice makes perfect

Kaja Dizdarević, a young and talented artist, loved drawing already in early childhood. However, she dropped out of secondary school for design and photography in her sophomore year and registered with the employment service. Her mentor referred her to the PLYA programme and the 19-year-old joined a group of young unemployed people.

The programme has been designed to give young people a chance to discover and develop their talents, develop hand skills and get to know different creativity techniques and learning methods, learn about different types of professions, gains skills in a number of areas of interest, and, with the help of a mentor, be empowered and motivated to make steps forward, either by going back to school or getting a job. 

Kaja admits she was sceptical about the programme at first, but underlines that the things she heard, saw and learned through the programme will be invaluable in helping her make smart future decisions: ‘’We visited a hydropower plant, saw what beekeepers or artists do, watched different movies, cooked together and discussed everything we experienced and learned. As we got to learn about different occupations, many of us found a career we were interested in.’’ Kaja is now willing to put great effort and all her energy in pursuing her dream and the career she has chosen. Also, she is leaving the door open for a possible return to school someday. She admits the programme has helped her overcome insecurities and has given her credit for what she is doing.

‘Project Learning for Young Adults’ is a free tailor-made training programme designed for young people between 15 and up to 26 years of age who dropped out of school or are unemployed. The programme empowers young people by helping them develop their potentials for successful participation in education and building of professional identity to facilitate labour market integration and social integration. Learning achievements of programme participants can be validated in the process of recognition of knowledge, skills and competences obtained through informal and non-formal learning as the participants re-enter formal education programmes or enter labour market through so-called process of recognition of professional qualification.