From 4 May to 4 July 2026, 14 participants in the ‘Mission Future – International Experiences for New Perspectives’ project undertook their work placement in Terni, Italy. During this time, they gained valuable professional experience, further developed their personal skills and learnt about everyday life in another country.
Throughout their stay, the participants were supported by two educational specialists. These specialists assisted them with organisational matters, personal concerns and their individual development. This included, amongst other things, discussions about their personal situations, help with doctor’s appointments, language lessons, support at their internship placements and organising joint leisure activities.
Living together – learning to be independent
The participants were accommodated in flats with one to three people. There, they organised their daily lives largely independently. They cooked, cleaned, went shopping and managed the household together.
This helped to develop important everyday skills – from managing money responsibly and organising shared tasks to taking on responsibility in communal living. After successfully completing each week of the work placement, the participants received their weekly allowance.
Work internships matched to individual interests
Each work placement was selected in advance on an individual basis, taking into account the participants’ interests, strengths and skills, and arranged in collaboration with Italian partner organisations.
The areas of work were varied and offered exciting insights into different professional fields. These included, amongst others:
- Food service
- Animal care
- Agriculture
- Butchery
- Sport and fitness
- Library
- Culture
- Language teaching
- Car mechanics
- Care of minors
Depending on their placement, the participants worked between two and eight hours a day. This enabled them to gain new professional experience, develop their skills and discover their personal strengths.
Experiencing language and culture
Even before they left, all participants attended an Italian language course. They were able to apply the language skills they had learnt directly in their day-to-day work placements and continue to build on them.
During their stay, many of them surpassed their own expectations, overcame new challenges and gained valuable experience that will stand them in good stead as they continue on their professional and personal journeys.
Leisure and community
Alongside their work placements, there was plenty of time to explore Italy. Joint cooking evenings, leisure activities and excursions strengthened the group’s bond and made the stay a special experience.
Highlights included trips to Rome, Assisi and Nettuno, as well as visits to the Marmore Waterfalls, the coast and other impressive sites in the Umbria region.
A successful conclusion
The stay abroad concluded with a formal certificate presentation ceremony. Together, the participants looked back on two intense months full of new experiences, personal achievements and shared adventures.
They overcame numerous challenges, developed new problem-solving strategies and boosted their self-confidence. The sense of camaraderie within the group, in particular, made the stay a formative experience for many.
Mission Zukunft offers young people the opportunity to gain international work experience, discover new cultures, develop their personalities and return home with valuable experiences for their professional and personal futures.
The project ‘Mission Future – International Experiences for New Perspectives’ is funded as part of the ‘JUVENTUS’ programme by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus).
