Personalized Approach to Territorial Life and Career Support

Across the Danube Region, many young people—especially those in rural or disadvantaged communities—lack access to meaningful career guidance.

Information is scattered, resources are centralized in cities, and support services are often out of reach. As a result, these youth face higher drop-out rates, limited professional prospects, and increasing pressure to leave their home regions.

This imbalance doesn’t just affect individuals. It fuels depopulation, increases inequality, and undermines the long-term social and economic sustainability of entire communities.

PATHS introduces the Life Path Support Service (LPSS) model – a new approach to career guidance that is local, inclusive, and tailored to the individual.

Instead of one-size-fits-all programs, LPSS offers:

• Free, accessible services in small municipalities
• Career workshops, camps, and internships rooted in self-awareness
• Trained local mentors who provide personal guidance and support
• A long-term strategy for sustainable regional development

This model is being piloted in communities across Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina – with expert support from Austria and Slovenia.

🔸 Young People (Ages 12–18)
PATHS brings real-life career guidance directly to youth in underserved rural areas. Through the “I Own the Path!” camps, local workshops, and internship opportunities, young people explore their skills, learn about their options, and take confident steps forward.

🔸 Mentors & Professionals
Teachers, social workers, business leaders, and community members are trained as mentors to guide and support the youth in their journey. Their involvement creates a lasting network of career support at the local level, even beyond the project’s lifetime.

Together, these groups build stronger, more resilient communities.

PATHS is more than a project – it’s a movement to transform how young people in rural areas connect with their futures.

By linking career orientation with local development, PATHS helps:

• Retain young talent in rural areas
• Build inclusive, high-quality services at the community level
• Strengthen regional cooperation through the Danube Region LPSS Network
• Influence lifelong learning policy through tested, scalable solutions

With every young person supported, every mentor trained, and every community engaged, we move closer to a Danube Region that is inclusive, sustainable, and full of opportunity.