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UBC Task Force on Youth Employment and Well-Being
NÌstved Job Centre has a very low number of young people with non-Danish ethnic background on public assistance in relation to the number of immigrants who come to the municipality. We experience that many of these youngsters have already educational aspirations and move on. Others comes from families where their tradition is to have own businesses, and they become part of the family business. Young immigrants receiving social benefits have other problems in addition to unemployment: drug addiction, gang-related problems, health challenges of mental nature and poor language skills. We send these young people during their integration period and integration initiatives to Independent Boarding Schools (Efterskoler) and to Folk High Schools (Højskoler), where they are challenged through social interaction with others and where education and the establishment of self-esteem and self-confidence are in focus. In addition, through our activation initiatives with local associations - sports and youth clubs - we try to involve young people in healthy social relations and interests.
City of Tampere, Finland Peer support
Targeted support is needed both for teenagers and their parents. The biggest challenge is catching up with the language to be able to study (if international school is not available). Information about pathways to studies, the educational system and working life requirements is important. One tool for providing this information in an informal and accessible way is peer support. There a young person with his/her own experiences of migration and studies in a new country and new culture will give counselling to other teens, working at schools, clubs for youngsters, in social media in co-operation with other actors in the field and also authorities like employment office, etc. Head coordinator of immigration affairs MARJA NYRHINEN, marja.nyrhinen@tampere.fi