Iasi, Romania (NGO Children on the Edge, U.K.)

Beneficiaries: 32 youths aged 18-26 who have graduated out of the orphanage system.

Absolvent assists recent orphanage graduates who leave state institutions without a family or means of support. The nine months of housing, counseling and support provided by project staff helps to relieve the stress and uncertainty of de-institutionalization, thereby reducing the risk of socially deviant behavior during a very vulnerable and critical period in the youths' lives. In some situations, staff will assist in tracing a youth’s biological family, promoting reintegration into the family where appropriate.

The program fosters integration into society by teaching life skills and creating vocational opportunities that will empower the youths to live independently. Life skills education includes shopping, cooking, budgeting, opening and managing a bank account, and personal hygiene. Students learn how to access available resources and obtain government unemployment benefits and identity papers. Some students are assisted with housing and university fees as they continue their education.

After aptitude testing and subsequent placement in vocational education courses or job programs, the youths also learn job seeking strategies and appropriate social skills. Social assistants counsel the youths in finding jobs and affordable housing. They continue to monitor individual situations and provide moral support as the youths actually begin training or working in new jobs.

A more recent program component is the Goruni Farm, where orphanage graduates---those less able to cope in an urban setting---can learn farm management and agricultural skills in a rural environment. Youth at Goruni can also learn tailoring skills at an on-site tailoring workshop completed in 2004.