A specialized educational program called FolkisUng at Västerbergs folkhögskola in Storvik is helping young people who are neither working nor studying to reintegrate into education and society. According to Region Gävleborg, there are approximately 3,000-4,000 young people aged 16-29 in Gävleborg county who are currently disengaged from both work and education.
The program, led by teachers Titti Geschwindt and Carolina Kaustinen, targets youth who lost their footing during the COVID-19 pandemic or who have had problematic school absenteeism from an early age. Many participants have been at home for months or even years before joining the program.
It starts with them feeling that they are missed. If someone doesn't show up, we contact them immediately. It should be noticeable that you matter.
FolkisUng operates with a flexible schedule, typically starting at 10:30 AM and ending around 2:00 PM, to accommodate participants who are unaccustomed to routines. The program focuses on building confidence in a school environment without academic performance pressure, offering activities like CV writing, job applications, wellness activities, and counseling.
Susanne Haglund, a study and career counselor involved in the project, emphasized the importance of making participants feel valued: 'It starts with them feeling that they are missed. If someone doesn't show up, we contact them immediately. It should be noticeable that you matter.'
The program is part of a national ESF project run by Folkbildningsrådet, aiming to help 560 people across Sweden find pathways to work or further studies. At Västerbergs folkhögskola specifically, the goal is to support 70 individuals. The project runs from January 2025 to April 2027 and is funded by the European Social Fund through the Swedish ESF Council.