Creating job opportunities and social cohesion for young people

Project description

Title: NEXUS Project – Career Guidance and Social Cohesion
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Employment (BMZ)​​​​​​​
Country​​​​​​​: Turkey​​​​​​​
Lead executing agency​​​​​​​: Ministry of National Education (MoNE),Ministry of Sport and Youth (MoYS), Vice President’s Office (VPO)
Overall term: 2019 to 2022

Lego Robotics and coding for social cohesion amongst Turkish host and Syrian refugee youth

Context

The long lasting Syrian crisis has resulted in the largest number of displaced people in the world. The neighbouring countries, especially Turkey, receive and host most of the Syrian refugees.  Currently, Turkey has the world's highest number of refugees´ registrations.

With regard to work, Syrian refugees who do not have an academic or a vocational qualification do not have very good job options in Turkey. In the long term, there is a danger of creating a lost generation of those who are excluded from education and employment and not integrated in society. Although both, Turkish and Syrian adolescents live in the same areas and share the daily routines of school life, there is a lack of opportunities to engage in joint activities and get to know each other. This can increase conflict potential due to a lack of understanding and possible competition for jobs.

Objective

Social cohesion and peaceful and inclusive coexistence among youth of refugees and host communities are improved. Through enhanced career guidance adolescents can make independent and informed decisions about their vocational education and entry into the labour market.

 Life skills training of youth centre staff and volunteers of host and refugee communities in Kahramanmaras

Approach

The project is being implemented by the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MoNE) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS). Its aim is to design measures for further developing the competencies for the staff engaged in the implementation of the project and to train the staff so the effects of the interventions will last beyond the project period.

Career guidance with virtual reality job tours have been introduced in 49 middle schools and will be introduced in 15 youth centres. Virtual career days are being organised in 10 technical vocational highschools and teachers of all these schools have been trained to enhance their skills on career guidance. The staff of youth centres in four provinces have been trained in skills such as conflict resolution, intercultural communication, team building to more effectively offer services to children and youth of both communities.

Last update: Mai 2022