Horsemen Project Time Schedule

Stages 1, 2, and 3…………………………………………..1 ½ years
?Implementation (Stage 4)…………………………………..1 year?
Evaluation and dissemination (Stage 4)…………. ½  year

The need for a project of this type is strengthened by the fact that Europe has committed itself to becoming a knowledge society combining economic performance with social inclusion. However at present 80 million EU citizens are low skilled. It is estimated that by 2010 almost half of the net additional jobs will require people with tertiary level qualifications: just under 40% will require upper secondary level and only 15% of jobs will be for those with basic schooling. This means a dramatic decline in job prospects for the low skilled. Therefore, better acknowledgement of the importance and value of learning, knowledge and competences is required. More particularly in education and training and acquisition of at least basic skills and a good literacy level should be top of the European agenda. (Tessaring, Wannan 2004)

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Clearly, targeted measures are needed to raise the motivation and capability of disadvantaged groups to participate in initial and continuing education and training, to recognise their skills and competences, and to integrate or keep them within the labour market and society. (Tessaring, Wannan 2004) Education and training are important for social cohesion albeit often indirectly through reducing poverty and raising awareness of societal goals. This projects aim was to achieve such a targeted measure through an inclusive development process aimed at producing a Horse-care module which would encourage members of the Travelling community, Gypsies and Roma to return to an education forum while respecting the individual nature of their culture and customs.?