Young People with Fewer Opportunities

What type of Obstacles?

Participants with fewer opportunities can fall on multiple typologies:

Social obstacles

– Discrimination –  young people facing discrimination or under-representation because of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

– Risk Behaviours – young people with limited social skills or anti-social or risky sexual behaviours, (ex)offenders, (ex)drug or alcohol abusers;

– Situation of Risk or Distress – young and/or single parents, orphans, young people from broken families; victims of abandonment, domestic violence, bullying or sexual abuse; young people living in very precarious situations or homeless;

Economic obstacles

– Economical Issues – young people with a very low standard of living, very low income, strong dependence on social welfare system, poverty, young people who are homeless due economic issues, young people in debt or with financial problems.

– Employment Issues – young people not studying or working (NEET) or individuals in long-term unemployment (more than a year).

Disabilities and Health problems

– Mental disabilities (intellectual, cognitive, learning)

– Physical and sensory disabilities or other disabilities

– Light Health Problems: intolerances, health issues, chronic health problems and mental conditions that may affect their daily life.

– Severe Health Problems: young people with chronic health problems, severe illnesses, psychiatric conditions, mental health problems, suicide, etc.;

Educational difficulties

– Learning issues – young people with learning difficulties or poor school performance;

– Lack of compulsory education –  adult young people that did not finish the compulsory education, early school-leavers or school dropouts (based on the school-leaving age and from compulsory secondary education).

Cultural differences

– Immigrant/Refugee –  young immigrants or refugees or descendants from immigrant or refugee families, cultural inclusion problems, etc.

– Minorities – young people belonging to (under-represented) a minority because of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Geographical obstacles

– Geographic isolation: young people from remote or rural areas, living on small islands, abandoned villages or peripheral regions (far away from urban areas!)

– Problematic areas: young people from urban problem zones or from less serviced areas (limited public transport, poor facilities)

Adapted from: Salto-Youth