In January 2011, the Hungarian Universal Support Service in cooperation with the Transcarpathian Advocacy and Development Center "Advance" created a project entitled, "Training activities enabling job placement for the disadvantaged population in Beregovo and Miskolc" This project was funded at a half million euros and was developed and implemented in the framework of the cross-border cooperation "Hungary - Slovakia - Romania - Ukraine."

General objectives of the program

The overall objective of the program is to provide learning opportunities for vulnerable populations living in the Berehove region and in city of Miskolc. In this project, vulnerable populations refer to the unemployed, the disabled, members of the Roma minority, women returning to the workforce after maternity leave, and young people who have not entered higher education. The intent of the two organizations is to introduce new teaching methods that will help solve the everyday problems of these target groups and facilitate their return to the labor market.

Program results

As a result of this two-year program in Ukraine, 400 people (mostly the unemployed, women, Roma and disabled people) will receive social and legal counseling, 80 unemployed people will be able to participate in accredited computer courses (750 hours), supplemental Ukrainian language courses (45 hours), or Hungarian language courses (35 hours), 60 women will explore the foundations of modern housekeeping skills (72 hours), and 40 people will participate in workshops to learn the skills of waiters and cooks (3 months).

In Hungary, the Project will involve special training for teachers of information technology. The purpose is to provide training to these teachers on how to provide computer training to vulnerable populations. 30 people living in Miskolc will receive these trainings and be able to hold similar courses. 100 people, mostly unemployed, women, disabled and Roma, will then participate in trainings led by these teachers that will apply to employment in the labor market.

Long-term cooperation

Another objective of the program is that the two partner organizations, drawing on their knowledge and experience, will develop innovative methods of cooperation and a common strategy for training. This program will continue working on activities that will address the issues of the unemployed in Ukrainian and Hungarian society, particularly for the disabled and ethnic minorities.