© Foyer Personal pathways for early school leavers and drop-outs in Flanders Wednesday 6 June 2012 Integration Centre Foyer vzw 9.30 am – pm © Foyer

7 Personal Development Pathway (“POT”) organisers in Flanders Groep intro Arktos Aura Lejo De Werf Foyer Profo

© Foyer Personal Development Pathway providers in Flanders Within the following regions … Antwerp : Arktos vzw, vzw Lejo Bruges : vzw Groep INTRO Brussels : vzw Groep INTRO, vzw Vormingscentrum Foyer Ghent and surroundings : vzw Groep INTRO, vzw Lejo and vzw De Werf; Halle-Vilvoorde : vzw Groep INTRO Kempen : Arktos vzw; Limburg : Arktos vzw, vzw Groep INTRO Leuven : Arktos vzw; Mechelen : Arktos vzw Meetjesland, Leie en Schelde : vzw groep INTRO Midden-West-Vlaanderen : vzw Groep INTRO; Oostende : vzw Groep INTRO; Waas en Dender : vzw Groep INTRO; Westhoek : vzw Groep INTRO; South-East Flanders : vzw Groep INTRO, vzw De Werf South-West-Flanders : Aura vzw Jongerenbegeleiding and vzw Groep INTRO.

© Foyer Welcome at Foyer in Molenbeek What is Foyer? Integration centre in Molenbeek -non-profit organization -founded in situated in Molenbeek -active on the municipal, regional and international levels -focusing on the global integration problems of ethnic minorities

© Foyer What does Foyer do? Shared Housing Projects Palace of the Normal and the Strange Service for travelling people and Rom gypsies Legal Service B.I.S. (Brussels Integration through Sports) Consultation service Intercultural mediation Newcomers

© Foyer What does Foyer do? (2) Les Ateliers du Foyer Youth Centre “Foyer des Jeunes” Dar al Amal meeting place for women Centre for part-time training Foyer Personal Development Pathways for 15 to 18-year-olds District workplace for woodcraft T-impact Employment service for our Personal Development Pathways youngsters + for two centres for alternate learning in the region of Brussels

© Foyer The Flemish educational system: secondary education Our work is situated here: youngsters from part-time vocational secondary education Alternance training system = reformed since July 2008 Full-time commitment of 28h/week 15h ‘learning’ 13h ‘on the job learning’

© Foyer “On the job learning”: The youngsters get systematic pathway-to-work- guidance Youngsters who do not yet have any clear career perspectives and remain indecisive about the training programme they wish to pursue can follow a preparatory pathway (of up to 312 hours). “voortraject” Youngsters who are prepared to work but still need to develop their work attitudes and skills can avail of a bridging project to get 40 weeks' work experience (800 hours maximum) with a public administration or a non-profit association. “brugproject” Socially vulnerable youngsters who are not yet able to work in a labour-oriented fashion are offered a personal-development pathway “POT” by a Centre for Part-time Training (Centrum voor Deeltijdse Vorming). Source:

© Foyer Personal-development pathways Are very flexible, they may comprise the following combinations: a personal-development pathway totalling 28 (50-minute) periods, comprising the components 'learning' and 'on-the-job learning' (no labour-market participation). (leren EN werken) a personal-development pathway totalling 15 (50-minute) periods, comprising the component 'learning' in combination with a bridging project or a preparatory pathway; (brugproject of voortraject) a personal-development pathway totalling 13 (50-minute) periods, comprising the component 'on-the-job learning' (no labour-market participation) in combination with part-time education at a Centre for Part-time Education, CDO.

© Foyer Who are our youngsters? 15 to 18 years old Registered in part-time vocational secondary schools (training in alternance) Socially vulnerable youngsters, due to social / personal / multiple / complex problems Not yet able to work in a labour-oriented fashion In need of a safe and encouraging learning environment

© Foyer We believe in their talents and potential Our youngsters cannot function in one or both components of their alternance training: learning (15h/week) on-the-job-training (13h/week) They need personal guidance to develop their potential and personal growth...

© Foyer Our mission is providing them with learning opportunities success experiences social skills self-confidence and self-knowledge responsibility and citizenship empowerment integration in society (pathway to work / further education)

© Foyer Our goals 1. Re-establishing the contact with the youngster –Truancy prevention –Participation in training activities within a clear structure –Stimulating involvement 2. Reinforcing the youngster as a person within his pedagogical context –Increasing well-being and self-confidence –Allowing to “catch his breath” and calm down –Exploring future perspectives –Strenghtening social skills, autonomy, team spirit, sense of responsibility –Catching up linguistic deficiencies, help with individual problems 3. Repairing the link between the youngster and society, i.e. with both components of alternance learning

© Foyer Our PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH is a success if the youngster can move on... to alternance learning system to (full-time) employment to (full-time) education / training AND if the ties with society have been repaired in other aspects of life, such as taking part in leisure activities a better sense of well-being and (self) confidence involvement, as opposed to alienation

© Foyer How do we work?

© Foyer Step by step 1.Application: two possible procedures direct application the youngster is sent to us by alternance learning centre 2. Round table with all partners involved 3. Intake and screening 4. Motivated written report by the pupil guidance centre (CLB) 5. Start of the Personal Development Pathway A warm welcome in a fun and motivating atmosphere Making up a Personal Development Plan TOGETHER The youngsters' context is an important factor Activities and training, building competences and skills They get lots of chances – but within a clear structure 6. Regular evaluations (at least every other month) with all partners involved. Every change (also the end) of the youngster's pathway must be documented officially by the pupil guidance centre.

© Foyer When their pathway is completed, our youngsters get... A certificate of acquired competencies Help with their transfer to employment or education / training Aftercare and follow-up: if they need further help (e.g. adapting their CV)

© Foyer PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH and WORK (1) If youngsters already have some school attitudes, such as: -Always at school and on time -Respect for other students and teachers -Able to work together with others -Respect for orders and feedback -Able to speak (some) Dutch - Some knowledge of administration, woodwork, etc. …then she/he can start a ‘brugproject’ if the whole VCF staff agrees.

© Foyer PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH and WORK (2) ‘Brugproject’ or Bridging Project: - 20 h / 3 days (other 2 days  school) -Max 800 h -Intake: exploring the youngster’s future perspectives -Work in public administration or a non-profit association -Intensive follow-up of the work attitudes -Tasks adapted to personal capacity -Salary: 3.4 euro / h

© Foyer PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH and WORK (3) Practical work as: -administrative assistant -workman -handyman -wood processor – carpenter (assistant) -bartender -kitchen assistant -shop assistant -kindergarten assistant -receptionist -painter -…

© Foyer PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH and WORK (4) List of attitudes to reach in ‘brugproject’: -Present at work -Come on time -Listen to mentor / boss -Respect instructions and perform orders -Work spontaneously -Inform the workplace in case of absence -Good integration in team -Open to feedback -Able to ask for help if needed -…

© Foyer PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PATH and WORK (5) Schoolyear : - 22/59 PDP-students have or had a ‘brugproject’ - Average of 92,30 % presence at work Since 1 January 2011: - 11 PDP-students have had a regular working contract, some in relation with part-time education.

© Foyer Time for questions!