Östra Göinge gives young people effective help
– We work towards work or studies, says social advisor Anna Pramberg.
She and Viktor Holm, also a social advisor, work with people aged between 18 and 25.
In the room next door is Viktor Svensson, who is a study- and job-counsellor. He is KAA co-ordinator (KAA-municipal activities co-ordinator) and keeps track of young people of upper-school age.
The municipality is by law responsible for seeing to it that all young people aged between 16 and 20 are offered some type of occupation.
”The best thing for public health is to complete an upper secondary education. Without a leaving certificate you run at least twice the risk of being out of work when you are thirty”Viktor Svensson, KAA co-ordinator
For a number of years Östra Göinge has had a high rate of unemployment among young people.And many have not been qualified to go on to the upper secondary school. In addition, there were many new arrivals in 2015.
– We give young people support to keep them from leaving school,we fix trainee places for them, and we follow up what the young people who don't go to school do, says Viktor Svensson.
The young people are spread over 33 upper secondary schools all over Sweden.
– The best thing for public health is to complete an upper secondary education. Without a leaving certificate you run at least twice the risk of being out of work when you are thirty, says Viktor Svensson.
”We managed to motivate 22 of them to stay on in school, and two of them got a place in the upper secondary school the following year. We only lost one”Viktor Svensson, KAA co-ordinator
During the past school year, 2018-2019, 25 pupils had an exceptionally high rate of absence from upper secondary schools.
– We managed to motivate 22 of them to stay on in school, and two of them got a place in the upper secondary school the following year. We only lost one, he says.
Young people who unwilling och unable to study can get full-time practical training.
– In the springterm there are about 20 who refuse to go to school, most of them are Swedish. They account for most of the dropouts, says Viktor Svensson.
Most new arrivals attend at introductory programme at Göinge Utbildningscenter in order to qualify for upper secondary studies.
”It isn't just about new arrivals. We found that a lot of young people disappear from the system””Anna Pramberg, social advisor
– Many of the new arrivals have experienced war and see studies as their chance. Many are unable to go on to upper secondary school, but they continue their studies at Sfi. They go on learning in any case.
Anna Pramberg and Viktor Holm work with the 18-25 year old age group. The project ”Talks for integration” started in February 2019, but now it continues under the name of ”Discussions for young people”.
– It isn't just about new arrivals. We found that a lot of young people disappear from the system, says Anna Pramberg.
Some participants who receive economic support are not enthusiastic about having to go to Göinge Ung. But they usually come to see the advantages after a time.
””This is hard for young people. Nobody ”gets” a job, you have to go out and find one””Viktor Holm, social advisor
– It isn't easy being out of work. Here they have something to do a couple of days a week in any case,says Anna Pramberg.
Participants meet for ten weeks, three hours a day, two days a week. There are many question-marks to be straightened out. There is a great deal of talk, both in small groups and in bigger gatherings.
– The basis is that they should examine themselves, ask what they can do differently to make progress and contribute to the community, says Viktor Holm.
– The labour market is hard for young people. Nobody ”gets” a job, you have to go out and find one, he says.