Stand by Me is a transnational project implemented in 4 European countries – Italy, Romania, Cyprus and Sweden – aimed at shaping and enabling pathways for boys and girls involved in different types of judicial proceedings who are leaving protection and reception systems (care-leavers). Through the participatory design of tools and working methods, the project improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures to support young people’s transition to autonomy, involving them in the process of design and implementation of the mechanisms to be adopted.

Which activities have been implemented?

• A Consultation process in each country involving over 300 young care-leavers, professionals and policymakers who met their peers to identify difficulties and issues to be faced regarding their rights in getting autonomy;
• An open-source and downloadable Board Game to raise awareness and critical thinking on the issues of growth and independence, built in a participatory way with young care-leavers and consulted professionals;
• Various downloadable training modules, shared in the national languages, based on the material that emerged from the consultation, which guides the Capacity Building seminars;
• 12 Training courses implemented for over 240 professionals aimed at recognising and addressing the needs and the demands connected to the path of young people towards autonomy;
• 4 online awareness campaigns based on the consultation process and 12 live events disseminating project products in each partner country;
• 12 Capacity Building seminars for over 80 policymakers, dedicated to the joint co-construction of a Working Protocol that outlines standard directions of work to improve the system of accompaniment of boys and girls towards autonomy;
• A final public event in Milan involving over 300 professionals, stakeholders and policymakers in the fields of social inclusion and integration policies to share and formalise a Transnational City Alliance, including a Working Protocol.

This project was funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020)