Preparing children and young people for independent living using a sports - based methodology

About this project

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesFull&quot;, serif"><span style="color: #000000">Despite the positive changes, Lithuania is failing to address some of the social problems, such as services for children/youth who are in the care system or who live in families at risk. There were 21,000 children growing up in families at social risk and 6622 children - in the care system. These children/youth face fewer opportunities to successfully integrate into society, pursue education, become independent. Therefore, the project will aim to develop an accompanying service that will prepare children for independent living from the age of 14. Also, the project will develop partnerships with employers by setting up a mentoring system in companies where young people will do an internship. Finally, the project will implement a sports-based methodology, which was developed by the Jonas Valančiūnas Support Foundation and tested over a three-year period with teenagers visiting the Adolescences Day Home. The basis of this methodology is the rules applied in sports, which help to change children’s and young people’s behaviors and develop skills that are important in everyday life. Thus, the project will include two phases: changing the child's risky behavior and developing life-critical skills and later, consistent transition to accompanying youth to independent living.</span></span></span></p>

Project partners

• Order of Malta Relief Organisation Project partner· Lithuania