All 88 technical vocational institutions across the country will be engaged in an extensive education and life skills development program for students over the next 4 years

The program continues similar interventions from 2019 to 2023 in 12 technical vocational education institutions, nearly doubling graduates' employability skills, according to a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Study (KAP, 2022) conducted by UNFPA.

The UNFPA Moldova representative, Karina Nersesyan, encouraged the youth to remain curious and engaged to acquire new professional and personal knowledge and skills, which will help them be prepared both for life and the workplace. "Vocational education and life skills are just as important in the transition to adulthood, and that's precisely what this program aims to do - to provide you with support to develop comprehensively," added Karina Nersesyan.

During the program's launch event "Connecting Youth with Jobs through Life Skills Development" on April 4, 2024, 88 students from technical vocational institutions organized a flash mob, representing their involvement in this program as actors contributing to the promotion of healthy life skills. At the same time, they emphasized the need to study soft skills and life skills in school, as they are better prepared to engage and succeed in the workplace.

Nina Chiriac is one of the young people who participated in the program held from 2019 to 2023. She delivered a welcoming message to the new institutions: "Wonderful things are happening here. We have become more open and mindful in our decisions; we have developed new skills that help us become better individuals and professionals. I'm sure you will also have much to learn in the coming years," concluded Nina.

Over the four years (2023-2027), the "Connecting youth with jobs through Life Skills Development" program aims to involve over 27,000 students from technical vocational institutions in life skills development and employment preparation activities. Additionally, friendly classrooms will be set up in schools and dormitories, interactive teaching materials will be developed, and teachers will be trained to teach the "Decisions for a Healthy Lifestyle" course.

"We aim for the school to be an environment where students acquire both knowledge and life skills. We are pleased that the program is extending for another 4 years and all students in the VET system," mentioned Galina Rusu, Secretary of State, Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.

Company experts and parents will be actively involved in the program. 220 specialists from companies participating in the dual system will be trained to create a youth-friendly environment in the workplace, and over 1000 parents of technical vocational education students will participate in a parenting program focused on communicating with teenagers.

"What we aim for, together with UNFPA, the Ministry of Education and Research, technical vocational institutions, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is to prepare you for life, to be confident in your abilities when entering the job market. Professional knowledge, mental health, healthy behaviors, and the ability to navigate different environments are very important, and this program will help you develop them and become successful professionals," conveyed Gunther Zimmer, Head of the Technical Cooperation Coordination Office of the Austrian Development Agency, to the youth.

According to the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Study (KAP, 2022) of technical vocational education students conducted by UNFPA, students from technical vocational schools who attended the "Decisions for a Healthy Lifestyle" course are better prepared for employment. The ability of young people to communicate, and work in teams, including with people with diverse abilities and in different environments, has nearly doubled (from 11% in 2020 to 19% in 2022). Additionally, students from technical vocational institutions state that thanks to this course, they know better how to behave in interpersonal relationships, with the percentage of students having early sexual relations being 37% in 2022, compared to those who did not study this course - 45% in 2022.

The "Connecting Youth with Jobs through Life Skills Development" program is implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.