Guide Me is a personal development and career guidance project for 10th- and 11th-grade students, developed by VOIS Romania and implemented by JA Romania in partnership with the Vodafone Romania Foundation. The initiative is carried out through the Brighter Futures educational program and contributes to VOIS for Good’s mission to generate positive impact and development opportunities for local communities.

The activities within the Guide Me project help young people discover their interests and aptitudes, explore various fields and career options, and develop the skills they need to make informed choices about their educational and professional paths.

Through sessions led by VOIS Romania volunteers, workshops, and self-discovery activities, students have the opportunity to interact with professionals, discover real-world career perspectives and experiences, and develop the skills they need to make more informed decisions about their future.

The project includes three complementary components: (1) activities for students in Bucharest, such as career exploration sessions and motivational workshops, Girls in STEM activities, and an event held at the VOIS Romania headquarters; (2) an online Girls in STEM workshop for high school girls in Iasi; (3) online personal development sessions for students across the country.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The project aims to enhance young people’s ability to make informed decisions about their education and careers by providing access to relevant information, opportunities to interact with professionals, and hands-on learning experiences tailored to the interests and needs of different groups of students.

Through these activities, students:

• develop their capacity for self-awareness by identifying their interests, aptitudes, and skills relevant to the future;
• explore concepts such as vocation, passion, talent, and career and analyze how these relate to their own educational and professional choices;
• discover professional fields, career paths, and jobs relevant to the future;
• understand the role of hard skills and soft skills and identify the skills they can leverage or develop;
• develop communication skills, self-confidence, and the ability to build a positive self-image;
• learn strategies for managing emotions and failure, setting goals, and staying motivated throughout their educational and professional journey;
• interact directly with volunteers, with the opportunity to ask questions and learn about real-life experiences related to education, careers, skills, and professional development.

Through the experiences provided by volunteers and interactive activities, the Guide Me project helps students more clearly define their interests, strengths, and areas for growth, explore educational and professional opportunities, and chart their own paths forward, preparing them to make informed decisions about their education and careers.