Vocational Education

This program is meant to develop the work abilities of young people with disabilities that want to get employed, so they can keep up. The Vocational Education Program is about preparing those regarding social abilities and the necessary abilities to integrate in their workplace group and keep the job; so the accent is not on training them for a particular profession.

The Vocational Education Program consists of 4 steps.

1. Selecting the companies and beneficiaries

The companies are selected based on their consent, an assessment of the workplace and the match with the abilities of the young people with mental disabilities.

2. Internship (practice at the workplace)

The practice activity is based on a collaboration contract between Alpha Transilvana Foundation and the "host" company. Young people will be monitored all throughout the practice period, watching their development, adaptability and social integration.
In this faze, it is important for the beneficiary to earn his independence and understand that sooner or later he will have to walk his own path, and not because he was abandoned, but because he has learnt to take care of himself.

3. Vocational Counseling 

The vocational counseling meetings have different themes that are discussed in an adapted, easy to understand manner. The purpose of the meetings is to identify the beneficiary’s issues, determine the steps that have to be taken to choose a job, formulating the beneficiary's objectives and goals, making his professional balance sheet and individual action plan based on the results of these meetings.

4. Activities for developing the "independent life skills"  

When we talk about independent life skills we refer to the minimum set of abilities that enable the owner to lead a normal social life, and not need assistance from social services.

These activities take place at Alpha Transilvana Foundation when the young individuals are not practicing at their workplace. The activities consist of the following subjects:

a) daily life skills

b) skills for managing their home and using community resources

c) money management skills

d) personal care skills 

e) social development skills