"The Day After" (DAF Project): training and support to young people in care for the day after coming of age. Erasmus+

“The Day After” (DAF Project: The Day After Project – Training and support for youth served in residential care institutions for the day after reaching the age of majority) is an international collaboration project in the youth sector funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union (KA205).

The DAF Project originated from the initiative of FSC and LAGUNDUZ: “Supporting for the day after,” with the support of INNOBASQUE, the Basque Innovation Agency, which provided backing to develop the initiative with a European perspective. It is also part of the project jointly developed by the two entities: “The Day After 3 Plus” (EDD3+), an intervention model that combines educational and therapeutic methodology to facilitate the transition to adulthood and socio-labor integration.

Its aim is to facilitate the transition to adult life and labor market integration for young people cared for in juvenile centers for the day after they reach the age of majority. That is, for the day after they leave the center and, in many cases, without having any care resources to turn to, facing severe difficulties accessing the labor market and, consequently, economic and social inclusion difficulties. Furthermore, at FSC, we believe that a new approach is needed to expand the offer of support and training services in Child Care Centers (CAMs), especially for migrant minors without family references.

Four social entities from three European countries participate in the project. From Spain, FSC (Fundación Salud y Comunidad), as the organization that promoted the project and assumes coordination, and LAGUNDUZ (Asociación de Asistencia Integral Lagunduz), two entities that collaborate on different initiatives in the field of care for young people at risk of exclusion and socio-labor integration; an entity in Italy, MONDO (Mondo Nuovo A.P.S.), with extensive experience in managing training programs and protection resources for children, adolescents, and their families; and SEHUB (Social Empowerment Hub) from Greece, a social organization with interdisciplinary experience in the field of youth and social sciences.

The DAF Project aims to develop a training model targeted at young people at risk of social exclusion between the ages of 16 and 18 -migrant or disadvantaged natives- cared for in residential facilities or juvenile centers under the Child Protection System in the participating European countries. The purpose of the training is to promote the acquisition of key competencies to facilitate the transition to adulthood and access to the labor market. Additionally, the project aspires to foster the establishment of synergies among professionals from juvenile centers (directors, educators, integrators, etc.), social organizations, educational institutions, companies, and Public Administration.

The project is expected to last 18 months (from January 2021 to June 2022) and the anticipated outcomes of the project are:

1. A reference guide for the social and labor integration of young people living in care centers.
2. A training curriculum and a practice itinerary (validated through pilot courses), to promote the transition to adult life of young people cared for in juvenile centers -with a modality specifically aimed at migrant minors-.
3. The implementation of the training curriculum and the practice itinerary through the development of theoretical-practical workshops (pilot courses) in the three participating countries.

As a transnational project of strategic partnerships –for the development of innovative practices, promotion of cooperation, and exchange of experiences at a European level in the youth sector– the innovative products (expected results) will be disseminated nationally and across Europe through the organization of multiplier events (dissemination activities in Spain, Italy, and Greece) and will be published on the project’s website.

To learn more:

Project website: https://dayafterproject.eu Project card on the Erasmus+ Program website: DAF Project – Erasmus+

Partners: