KOMPASS

Competence-Oriented Mobility for Perspective and Work in Saxony

Youth Unemployment: A Cycle We Can Break

Youth unemployment is a serious problem that affects many young adults. Financial constraints and lack of career prospects often lead to insecurity, loss of self-esteem, and social exclusion. Without the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, the chances of future employment decrease significantly. These problems reinforce each other and create a vicious cycle.

The KOMPASS Project: A Path to a Better Future

This is where the KOMPASS project comes in. Through a two-month internship in an English-speaking country, combined with a language course, KOMPASS offers young people the chance to break this cycle. Participants improve their language skills and professional abilities, significantly increasing their employability. They also gain self-confidence and a new perspective on their lives and their role in the world.

Strong Together: KOMPASS in the Bautzen District

KOMPASS is implemented in the Bautzen district in collaboration with the Jobcenter and is aimed at disadvantaged young people aged 18 to 30. The partner countries for the stay abroad are Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom. The stay is accompanied by measures that prepare participants for their internship and life abroad. Intensive follow-up is also offered to optimally utilize the acquired skills and facilitate the transition to work or training.

Funded by the Program "Juventus: Strengthening Mobility - For a Social Europe"

The KOMPASS project is funded from 2025 to 2028 under the program "Juventus: Strengthening Mobility - For a Social Europe" by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus). It makes an important contribution to the social inclusion of disadvantaged young people and helps to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the region of East Saxony.

Internship Stay in Cork, Ireland: Diverse Fields and Cultural Experiences

The first group of participants started in the second half of 2025. The internship in Cork, Ireland, took place from 28 September to 28 November 2025. The programme and the preparatory period began on 14 July. The range of possible internships was wide: areas of work included hospitality & events, skilled trades, construction & agriculture, marketing & sales, design & creation, office management, IT & communication, social services, education & care, and more. Accommodation was provided in host families, either alone or with other participants. The participants settled in well and experienced Irish culture first-hand. The project covered the costs of travel, accommodation and meals, and basic benefits continued to be paid. An educational specialist accompanied the trip. The participants are currently completing a follow-up programme, including career coaching and job application training, so that they can make immediate use of the experience they have gained.

Internship in Malta: Job Spring in Valletta

In the second round, a group from Bautzen will travel to Malta; the participants are currently in the selection phase. Here, too, the focus is on activating English language skills and gaining work experience. The participants' preparation, including a language course and an introduction to Maltese culture, will begin on 12 January 2025, with the trip itself starting on 11 April 2025. In this round, too, travel expenses, as well as the costs of accommodation and meals, will be paid by the project, while basic social security benefits will continue to be paid. Accommodation will be in shared flats, and participants will cater for themselves using a lump sum paid to them. Educational specialists will accompany the trip.