The EU Commission wants to set up a new exchange program for those who have neither an apprenticeship nor a job. This program is called ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve). This program has been designed to combine support for:
- education, vocational training, or employment in their home country;
- with a work placement in another EU country.
Alma will give such young people the opportunity to gain temporary work experience in another European member state, “said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union address in Strasbourg.
The program is for the youngsters who have been failed to accomplish their settlement. This means the scheme will help those who:
- have insufficient school performance or vocational skills
- are in long-term unemployment
- have difficulties finding a job
- have a migration background
- or live with disabilities
ALMA will help the youngster in many ways. It will make sure to help the youngster to be able to achieve most of this exchange program with an EU member state. According to the European Commission, the major support will be:
- Prior to their stay abroad, participants will receive intensive tailor-made training in their home country
- Participants will be offered a supervised work placement with accompanying mentoring services for a period of 2 to 6 months in another EU Member State
- Upon their return, continued support will guide them and use the newly acquired skills in their home country to gain employment or further education
Successfully chosen candidates will be able to benefit from the travel expenses. They will also be able to enjoy social security, insurance, basic needs such as food and accommodation, coaching, and counseling before, during, and after their stay abroad.
These youngsters deserved an experience of what students could do under the Erasmus exchange program. Specific details as to which age group the program will be aimed at are not yet known, and von der Leyen has also announced that 2022 will be the year of European youth. This was intended to appreciate the young people who would have sacrificed a lot to protect others during the corona pandemic. Young people should also play a key role in the Conference on the Future of Europe, which started work in June. At the conference, politicians and citizens are expected to develop concrete proposals on issues such as climate, environment, and health by spring 2022. Von der Leyen assured that the EU Commission would take these proposals seriously.
It will be interesting to know how to apply for the Alma program. Till now, the scheme has been under the development process. In near future, it will be possible to know all about it in detail.