Counselling for 300 children in Romania

Dear supporter,

As we look toward the future, Te Aud Romania is reorienting its strategy in the area of career guidance. We are shifting from direct service delivery to a broader, more sustainable approach: building the capacity of schools across Romania. Our vision is bold yet essential—to ensure that every school in the country is equipped with the tools and instruments necessary to guide students toward meaningful, informed career paths.

Career guidance is not simply about helping students choose a profession. It is about empowering young people to understand themselves, recognize their strengths, and explore the opportunities available to them. In today’s rapidly evolving world, where the job market is constantly changing and traditional career paths are being redefined, students need structured support to navigate their futures with confidence and clarity.

Unfortunately, most schools in Romania lack the resources and tools to offer effective career counseling. This gap leaves many students—especially those in rural or underserved areas—without the guidance they need to make informed decisions about their education and future. By investing directly in schools, we aim to democratize access to career guidance, making it a standard and accessible part of every child’s educational journey.

To achieve this, we will implement our strategy in phases, beginning with a pilot initiative that targets both high schools and middle schools (scoli gimnaziale). In the first stage, we aim to equip at least one high school and one middle school in each of Romania’s 41 counties, resulting in a total of 82 projects. Each project will be supported with a budget of €7,000, bringing the total budget for this initial phase to €574,000.

Each school involved in the pilot will receive vocational testing instruments, career guidance tools and resources, training for school staff, and a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure impact and sustainability. This foundational phase will allow us to test, refine, and scale the model, ensuring it is adaptable to both urban and rural contexts.

Our long-term vision is to expand this initiative to every school in Romania, creating a national network of career-ready institutions. By embedding career guidance into the fabric of the educational system, we aim to reduce school dropout rates, increase student motivation and engagement, improve alignment between education and labor market needs, and foster self-awareness and informed decision-making among youth.

This strategic shift is not just a change in direction—it is a commitment to systemic transformation. By building the capacity of schools, we are investing in the future of Romania’s children, ensuring that no student is left without guidance, support, or opportunity.

We invite partners, educators, and policymakers to join us in this journey. Together, we can build a future where every child in Romania has the tools to dream, decide, and succeed.