With the cooperation of seven partner entities from the academic and social spheres of two countries, the Evolution Project aims to provide a coordinated response to three challenges that the child protection systems of Gipuzkoa and the French Pyrénées-Atlantiques currently face: the transition to adulthood of adolescents under the guardianship of the child protection system in both territories, the use of social networks and access to higher education for children and adolescents who are under a protection measure. After a first year of work, the preliminary results of the lines of research on the use of social networks and the promotion of higher education itineraries will be shared at the Cross-Border Conference of the EVOLUTION project that will take place on January 14, 2025 at the Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Anthropology of the UPV/EHU (Avenida Tolosa, 70, 20800 Donostia, San Sebastián). See Program.

The University of Granada professor Carmen Ruiz Repullo, an expert in gender violence against adolescents on social networks, will also participate in these sessions.

The objectives of the EVOLUTION project are:

• To carry out a broad qualitative study of the stories of young people who have graduated from child protection services in order to better understand the opportunities and challenges they encounter in their transition to adult life.
• To design new itineraries and access routes to post-compulsory, professional and higher education to promote equal educational opportunities.
• To provide professionals with practical tools to promote safe and responsible use of social networks by young people.
• To develop and implement customized training modules for professionals in order to train them to accompany these young people in their emancipation and social inclusion.

The expected results of the EVOLUTION project are:

• A report that includes definitive improvement proposals to be implemented in public institutions on child and adolescent protection systems.
• A cross-border diagnosis of the educational paths of adolescents and young people under a protection measure of the factors that facilitate and hinder the achievement of post-compulsory and higher education.
• A cross-border diagnosis of the uses, opportunities and dangers of social networks among the population of girls, boys, adolescents and young people under a protection measure.
• A training programme through 3 to 5 training modules for vocational training centres and universities and in the health and social fields in both territories aimed at professionals in socio-educational services on the use of social networks and digital devices
• Two training programmes (one for professionals and another for students in the socio-educational field to promote the access of young people in vulnerable situations to vocational and higher education.
• A guide to good practices and guidelines for action for socio-educational structures.

More information on the project's partner entities:

• Etcharry Formation Développement
• Nazaret Fundazioa
• University of Deusto
• University of the Basque Country/ Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
• Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques
• Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia/ Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa
• Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque /Adoenia

For more information, see the information poster of the project. All the latest news about the project will soon be available at www.evolution-project.eu

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The EVOLUTION project is a 65% co-financed project by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The objective of the POCTEFA programme is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.