It is hard to find skilled employment after leaving education early. The risk of social exclusion is high. Two young Slovenians, Filip and Jana, turned this difficult situation around: they enrolled in ‘PUM-O’, a non-formal learning programme supported by the European Social Fund (ESF).

‘It may have seemed like a last resort on our first visit, but in hindsight, PUM-O was merely the first step on a path towards truly fulfilling our potential,’ says Filip.

Through the programme, young adults in Slovenia took part in a ten-month course of non-formal education. Depending on individual circumstances, the course could be extended or shortened to help young people build their skills and experiences.

Jana reflects on how taking part in a highly personalised course allowed her to discover more about herself and what she wanted to do:

‘I found a part of myself on PUM-O; I realised what makes me happy and what I am good at. I wasn’t just a number on a piece of paper, nor was I just one of the people attending the programme at the same time as others,’ she says. ‘We were all connected and encouraged each other. We understood one another because we were all in the same shoes.’

At the end of the course, Jana and Filip received a certificate of success containing information on their individual involvement in specific learning projects and employment activities – such as skills courses – detailing the duration of training. The certificates could then be used to re-enrol in formal education programmes, look for employment and provide recognition of their qualifications, achievements and non-formal knowledge, skills or abilities.

Alongside these practical benefits, Filip is keen to highlight how PUM-O has changed his attitude towards life and created a sense of community among the participants. ‘Even as we move on, our exams passed and our lives ‘cleaned up’, it is what we take with us into the future that is the greatest showcase of PUM-O’s significance,’ he says. ‘The lessons on life we were taught and, more importantly, the ones we have taught each other have made us into people ready and willing to take on all the life challenges that stand in front of us.’

PUM-O supports around 400 young people across Slovenia each year.