Podlaska Wojewódzka Komenda OHP

The Voluntary Labour Corps (Polish Ochotnicze Hufce Pracy) is a state-run organisational unit working to prevent social exclusion of young people that performs tasks directed towards teenagers over 15 years of age, that include employment services, counteract social marginalization and social exclusion, as well as tasks related to education and upbringing. Beneficiaries of the OHP activities include youth with fewer opportunities, economic obstacles, educational difficulties (who struggle to complete school and need to acquire vocational qualifications) and all vocational school graduates seeking for employment. Our initiatives include job matching, vocational counselling and information services, workshops promoting active job search, organisation of training seminars, and labour market programmes. Thanks to EU funding, we organize and take part in international youth exchanges (with an emphasis on informal education) and professional internships. We treat these activities as an important educational factor, helping to shape pro-social and civic attitudes, building openness and tolerance among young people. Every year, labour market services are provided to approx. 700,000 young people.