With support from the Youth Guarantee scheme, many young people in Europe have managed to find a job or follow a course which gives their career a boost. This is Evita's story, from Latvia.

Evita is continuing her education thanks to the Youth Guarantee scheme – she even has ambitions to set up her own company!

After leaving secondary school, Evita wanted to go to college but could not afford the tuition fees. Fortunately, the Youth Guarantee stepped in with support which has enabled her to enrol in a course at the Jelgava Vocational High School. This change of fortune means she can move on to focus on a long-term professional career.

The one-and-a-half year study programme will help Evita realise her dream of joining the accountancy profession. As well as learning core accountancy skills, she is taking modules in economics, business management and finance.

Evita learned about what Youth Guarantee can offer by browsing on the Latvian State Education and Development Agency website. The Youth Guarantee provided Evita with funding for the course, as well as general advice and help with filling in the application forms.

 “I’m still doing the course, but I’m certain that I have chosen well. Things are going great, and I’ve even received job offers! My long-term goal is to start my own accountancy business – the study programme is giving me the tools I will need in the future.”

Key facts

• In July 2015, the unemployment rate among young Latvians under 25 stood at 15.4%.
• In Latvia, just like in the rest of the EU, the Youth Guarantee proposes young people aged 15-24 a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving initial education.
• Latvia’s Youth Guarantee includes a range of support tailored to each young person’s particular needs – this could include vocational training, wage subsidies, short courses and lectures, work placements, assistance with job interviews or help to become self-employed.

Background

The EU countries endorsed the principle of the Youth Guarantee in April 2013. The EU financially supports the set-up and implementation of Youth Guarantee Schemes through the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative. It also provides opportunities to learn from each other, and monitors the implementation in the context of the European Semester. The results of these efforts contribute to providing youngsters a better career future.