Just after 3 years later of the foundation, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAO) does not actually accomplished to his mission. Despite the large approval by the apprentices and the employers that joined the programme, it seems it did not strike the target: helping young people (16+) to join the job environment. According the data provided by National Audit Office, more of 2 out of 3of apprentices are older than 25 years.

In Italy, the association “Diritti Diretti Onlus” has organized the 1st national free professional photography course for people with disabilities, called “Communicating through pictures”, to be held in Chieti from 7 March to 20 June 2012. The available seats are 10 and the applications must be sent by February 15, 2012.

In Italy, 84% of the Service Centers for Volunteering has an office specifically deputy to communication. This is one of the data that emerges from the new Cesvot book, which highlighted how this type of activities has not just promotional functions, but responds in particular to identity and organizational needs.

Active ageing and intergenerational solidarity are the issues on which European Union focus in 2012 for the common reflection. To help to fully well participate to the debate it will be useful to introduce notions and key worlds we are coming across. Ageing: according to last surveys conducted throughout Europe, the perception of age is quite different among countries. For example, people under 37 years old are considered young in Malta, Portugal and Sweden, otherwise in Greece and Cyprus are such people in their 50s and more. On average, over 42 years old, European do not consider themselves young anymore/acknowledge themselves as [...]

In Italy, it was published in the Official Gazette the decree setting to 48,806 the number of visas and residence permits that may be issued to foreigners for the access to university and high artistic training courses, for the academic year 2011-2012.

Milan opens the doors of its kindergartens to the children of immigrants without residence permit. This is one of the main changes contained in the municipal circular letter which establishes the criteria for the registration of children in the nursery schools for the year 2012/2013. In the text of the decision it is possible to read, in fact, that parents of children who "normally live in the city and do not have a fixed address" can apply for registration. A significant change of direction of this Lombard Government, which aims at giving equal rights of access to such services to [...]

- 1.3% During last year, the young unemployment rate in Germany went down by 1.3%. It seems that the policies decided by Prime Minister Angela Merkel and her government yield benefits. Unlike any other European country where the unemployment rates were subjected to an increase over all, Germany is the only one marking a decrease by up one percentage point. Actually the unemployment rate went from 6.6% to 5.5% in a year, but the better upshot is in young unemployment rate that went from 9.1% to 7.8%, on the other hand the European average is by 22.1%.

In Italy, the civil mediation enters the new market basket 2012 of the National Institute for Statistics, consisting of 1,398 products, aggregates in 597 representative positions. This is a consequence of the introduction of this institution into the Italian law, following the approval of the Legislative Decree 28/2010 as part of the recent reform of civil justice.

In Belgium there is a boom of assisted voluntary returns. In 2011, immigrants who have decided to return to the motherland have reached a record level of 3,400: +14% over the previous year. A phenomenon that, in addition to the severe economic crisis, is due in particular to the success of the new strategy implemented by Federal Agency for the Reception and the Asylum. The magic formula is so simple, but effective: to increase the prize for third-country nationals who choose to leave the Kingdom of Albert II. So, besides the usual free ticket, there is also an economic allocation [...]

To make life easier for blind people, the government of Catalonia has made ​​a health card in Braille. An absolute innovation in Spanish that allows those who have severe vision deficiencies not to confuse, for example, this document with a credit card. Before being delivered to your home, there will be an experimental phase which will last a month. During which, in collaboration with the ONCE (National Organization for the Blind), preliminary tests will be made ​​to refine the new instrument. It is a further step towards a more effective policy of inclusion of disabled people within the Catalan executive [...]