Being unemployed for a long time can be a confidence-shattering experience. Often, long-term unemployed individuals can feel powerless to find their way back into the labour market. One project, supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) proved to be a lifeline for Croatians in this situation. 

Launched in 2019, the ‘empowerment and education for social inclusion' project aimed to help long-term unemployed people rebuild their confidence and hone their professional competencies. Created by UZOR – a local social service provider – the project had an additional special focus on assisting unemployed women who had been victims of domestic abuse. 

The project exceeded expectations for Luka, who was able to develop new skills and experiences in his search for a job. 

‘I was thrilled that there was such a thing and that we weren't just depending on the employment service. I learned something new, gained new knowledge in a new field for me, strengthened my competencies in finding a job and become more independent.’ 

The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time for everyone. Worldwide lockdowns not only affected vulnerable people’s mental health, but it also proved a major obstacle for Croatians to find a job. Lucija joined the project after she was unable to make progress finding work during the pandemic. She credits UZOR’s services with building her confidence and providing much needed financial support. 

‘I came here because of the inability to find a job during the pandemic and thus the inability to pay for the retraining I was attending at the time,’ she says. ‘At UZOR, I have received both financial and emotional support, for which I am infinitely grateful.’ 

The project helped more than 30 people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Participants were able to choose from a variety of educational programmes to suit their needs, and were provided with important job and soft skills – alongside individual counselling and support. 

UZOR’s project couldn’t have come at a more important time, helping marginalised groups to get back on their feet and take their first steps towards employment during a very difficult economic period