Ensuring That Feeling Overwhelmed Doesn’t Lead to Dropping Out

Not every young person finds their way directly into vocational training or a career.

In the Vocational Preparation Programs (BvB) at Don Bosco Saxony, young people with special support needs are prepared for their future career paths. Some have not completed high school; others have already started vocational training but dropped out.

For some, however, even the regular vocational preparation program is initially too great a challenge. Feeling overwhelmed, experiences of failure, and anxiety can lead to absences and ultimately to dropping out.

This is exactly where the BvB Perspective Group comes in.

A supportive environment for a fresh start

Launched in 2024, the Perspective Group offers young people intensive and individualized support.

In a small group of no more than eight participants, personal strengths and interests are identified and nurtured. The young people work on building self-confidence, social and life skills, and establishing a reliable daily routine.

At the same time, work samples and practical project tasks prepare them for the working world. Concentration, perseverance, work planning, and problem-solving skills are specifically trained.

The goal: To enable young people to gradually transition back into regular training programs and develop a sustainable outlook for their future lives.

Sometimes it takes more time and support

The “Perspektivgruppe” also provides a safe space during acute crises. Instead of discontinuing the entire program, young people can receive more intensive support on a temporary basis.

Initial experiences show that this approach works: participants’ self-esteem and reliability improved, and absenteeism decreased significantly. Several short-term crises were successfully managed, allowing the young people to subsequently return to their regular vocational training programs.

Support Over Two Years

This intensive support requires more staff and additional resources than can be covered by the regular funding for a vocational preparation program.

That is why the Chance Jugend Foundation is supporting Don Bosco Saxony’s BvB Perspective Group over a two-year period.

In this way, we aim to help ensure that young people with special support needs do not fall through the cracks, but rather receive the time and guidance they need to forge their own path.

Our commitment began as early as 2021

The Chance Jugend Foundation has been supporting Don Bosco Saxony for several years now. As early as 2021, we helped ensure that participants in vocational preparation programs—for whom public funding was no longer available—could continue their education.

With our support for the BvB Perspective Group, we are continuing this commitment today.

Because sometimes a young person doesn’t need a completely new path—but rather someone who ensures they can continue on their current path.

Empowering young people to thrive in life!