The press conference and multi-professional intermediary seminar of the project L.I.K.E.-“Life Investment Is the Key to employment” was organized by Association PINS and was conducted on 22.09.2021. at the floating terrasse of „Kipsalas Fabrikas restorans”, in Riga, Latvia.
The event was attended by Latvian State Television as well as major news agencies.
All involved parties – the Minister of the Welfare – Gatis Eglitis, the legislators from Latvian parliament, the representatives from The Labor Department of The Welfare Ministry, representatives from The Labor Department of The Municipality of Riga, the leaders of the friendly NGOs, employers, social workers, psychologists, youth workers, the project LIKE staff, NEETs with mental health problems themselves and their parents informed about the findings and conclusions of the project and the intermediary seminar – the most effective, convenient and sustainable ways of inclusion of young people with mental health problems into the labor market.
During the conference:
The project LIKE leader Dr. Snarski introduced the 3 phases of the project: the research phase, transition employment phase and the employment phase. He shared the data acquired during the research conducted in Latvia, which defined the profile and needs of the young persons with mental health problems. This data revealed the various types of the NEETs with mental health problems and main obstacles hindering them from entering the labor market.
The project psychologists, mentors and youth workers revealed real problems of young persons with mental health problems encountered during the four months work in the “Hidden Likes” Youth House. The young persons with mental health problems promised to share their own personal stories with the press after their successful inclusion into the labor market.
The parents shared that they feel alone, burned out and devastated providing the non-stop medical care, emotional support and the financial means to their adult children.
The NGOs shared that they are in constant struggle in search for the finances in order to compete with the ineffective and slow state social system, which receives bigger and bigger funding for lesser quality work.
The representatives of The Labor Department of The Welfare Ministry informed about existing programs which, if improved, might be helpful for involvement of NEETs with mental health problems in the labor market.
During the multi-professional intermediary seminar:
The main goal of the seminar was to listen to the opinion of the all sides involved in multilateral solving this problem.
The project psychologists, mentors and youth workers shared 18 real cases and real profiles of young persons with mental health problems. Then two brave young persons with mental health problems shared their own personal stories.
The representatives of the employers shared their concerns of risks and loses of hiring or not hiring the NEETs with mental health problems.
On the other hand, the representatives from The Labor Department of The Municipality of Riga informed, that they are not planning any services or programs for the involvement of NEETs with mental health problems in the labor market in the territory of Riga.
Furthermore, with the leadership of the Minister of the Welfare – Gatis Eglitis the participants from the all sides concentrated on the creation of the systematic solutions of the involvement of NEETs with mental health problems in the labor market.
All participants noted the positive energy of the Minister of the Welfare and expressed the hope that it will finally start melting the ice between The Municipality of Riga and NEETs with mental health problems. Is it the beginning of social spring?
