Örebro Kommun (Municipality of Örebro)

Ung Arena is an entity under the labor market department in the Municipality of Örebro. The municipality's responsibilities are regulated in the so-called special laws and municipal law. In addition, municipalities have the free right to determine, through the so-called local self-government. Self-government based on democracy and citizen's ability to influence municipal decisions. Municipalities have a taxing right under the Constitution. Some activities are responsible for the municipality because it is determined by law. Other activities the municipality conducts voluntary. Examples of activities that the municipality legally responsible for: Preschool and school, Secondary education, Elderly care, Care for the Disabled, Supply Contributions, Library, Planning and building issues, Environmental health, Water and sewer, Sanitation and waste management, Maintenance of local streets and parks, Order and Safety, Emergency services like Fire Departement. In Sweden there is a law, under the education act, that says that all municipalities must keep themselves informed about what every youth 16-20 years of age are doing. The ones that attends secondary school are not under that responsibility. At the Activity Responsibility (which is a part of Ung Arena) we work with drop-outs, youths who never attend secondary school and those who never graduated from elementary school. Many of them are youth with fewer opportunities. Our role is to find the youths, them and offer them a meeting where we together tries to find their way towards the future. Activities that may help them towards an education or some kind of employment are the key topics. Activities that may help them towards an education or some kind of employment are the key topics. We offer youths internship, ESC and different kinds of non-formal education as many of the youths we meet are not ready, or doesn’t have any will, for formal education. What we offer is a programme where they can pick topics that follow their interests and needs. The working methods is mainly group discussions and workshops. We think that volunteering within the framework of European Solidarity Corps is an activity like that. Youth that are not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) are a growing problem in Europe. It ain’t an isolated problem in each country. We all have similar situations and it is important to cooperate to find solutions for these youngsters. Projects within the Erasmus+ program is very good and makes it easy for staff in different countries to cooperate around the issue. We at Ung Arena in the Municipality of Örebro think that doing international projects (like Youth exchanges and ESC) is a good way for youths to strengthen their European citizenship and at the same time find ways out of unemployment or isolation.