Most youths in placement centers and boarding institutions and orphans lack the opportunity to learn basic life skills. Many are still unable even to manage money in their adolescence, says Viorica Matas, head of the Center of social services for the child & family.

She told a press conference at IPN that children who live in a family manage to learn the skills necessary for leading an independent life, but children in institutions don't. There are categories of youths who, even after graduating special schools, don't realize they need some basic skills for an independent life, and skills such as participating in the life of the community, management of money can't be learned in the institutions where these youths are placed.

Many studies about youth who graduate from boarding schools show that they have difficulties in finding jobs, but nobody talks about their leadership skills. Most social projects for these children focus on other aspects than leadership and social inclusion after graduation.

According to Viorica Matas, such youths need to realize they are important as well. When an investment is made in developing personal capacities, it's a long-term investment. Projects that include training and teaching create long-term skills and the youth will have a different attitude towards themselves and society.

The Center of social services for child & family is participating in the cross-border project “I care, I participate! - Cross-border cooperation for social inclusion of vulnerable youth” that will involve 60 youth from boarding institutions, orphans or children whose parents are abroad, from both sides of the Prut River. In Romania, the project will be implemented by the Cote Foundation in Iasi.

The 60 beneficiaries will be selected from 10 placement centers, boarding schools and institutions in the cross-border area. They will take part in project contests for solving problems of the community or of social inclusion and will receive 200 euro grants for their implementation.