Creating employment opportunities for young people with disabilities
Through the joint initiative of UNICEF Greece, Junior Achievement Greece, Junior Achievement Europe and the NN Group, Apollo, Panagiota and Joseph started their very first job and are planning their professional career with optimism and confidence.
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Apollo, Panagiota and Joseph, three young people with different types of disabilities, are all graduates of Agios Dimitrios' Special Vocational Education and Training Workshop (SVET). ) and work together at Synergy Snacks; a company selling energy nut bars, with the vision to ensure the independence and maximum autonomy of young people with mental disabilities and other developmental disorders.
This is their very first job and, as they share with us, their work has contributed significantly to strengthening their skills - both on a personal and professional level - helping them to feel more independent, confident and optimistic about their professional future.
"It gives me great satisfaction when I get out of my house and go to work. Then I wait to get paid and I feel very good with myself..." says Apollo.
Panagiota adds "Here I learned how to work, how to manage customer orders, answer the phone and talk to clients."
George, who has been working at the 3S – School Synergy Snacks for 3 years now, continuously supports them by sharing with them his experience and knowledge, while Ms. Rena, who is the office manager, observes their progress and shares her thoughts, “I saw that work makes them happy and I hope there will be more initiatives like this because it is invaluable for these children to be able to work and get paid for it."
The "Empowering young people to access increased employment and entrepreneurship opportunities" initiative is implemented by the UNICEF Greece Country Office in collaboration with Junior Achievement Greece, as part of the pilot implementation of the EU ‘Child Guarantee’ programme. In addition, the initiative has been implemented also as part of Junior Achievement Europe's ‘Economic Opportunities for all’ programme in collaboration with the NN Group, which promotes the education and employment of young people from vulnerable groups and remote areas.
Both initiatives aim to strengthen the skills and create opportunities for young people with disabilities to access employment and entrepreneurship.
