The Youth Guarantee in practice: practical experience helps Goda launch her own business
(From ec.europa.eu)
The Youth Guarantee in practice: practical experience helps Goda launch her own business
Goda Tokere is the founder of Oh My Goda, a successful fashion company. She’s also one of a growing number of young Lithuanians that have been able to develop skills, gain experience and access new careers through the Youth Guarantee scheme.
Goda’s journey began when she made the difficult decision to leave her fashion engineering course at university. “I always knew that I wanted to work in the design industry, but I felt the course focused too much on theory instead of practical knowledge, which I knew would be essential for my future.”
Outside of university, Goda struggled to find permanent work and soon became unemployed. She tried to create a job for herself by launching a fashion company, but that lack of practical knowledge held her back.
It was then that she heard about the programme 'Improvement of Unqualified Persons’ Competences' from a friend. This programme runs under the Lithuanian Youth Guarantee scheme. “I knew it would help me a lot to develop the skills I needed,” she says. “It was a huge motivation for me to move forward with my own designs and start creating something new.”
The training that Goda took part in offered the balance of theoretical and practical skills she was looking for. Over nine months she was able to develop her sewing, designing, dressmaking and tailoring skills, while also improving her theoretical knowledge and business acumen.
“Every day I felt like I was learning something new,” she shares. “It was radically different from school and university. The only drawback – I had to get up very early!”
After completing the training, Goda had the confidence and skills to launch Oh My Goda. The company began by specialising in accessories, but quickly branched out into clothing design and style consultations as demand increased. That growing popularity means Goda has been able to offer jobs to other young people and she’s also looking into expanding her product lines further.
About the programme
The Improvement of Unqualified Persons’ Competences programme is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and implemented by the Lithuanian Labour Exchange. The programme helps young people without qualifications to find a job by giving them the opportunity to improve their skills and gain professional experience in a field that appeals to them.
Youth unemployment in Lithuania
- As of July 2016, 16.5% of young people under 25 in Lithuania were unemployed.
- In Lithuania, the Youth Guarantee offers young people aged 15-29 employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving initial education.