GUS - Gruppo Umana Solidarietà Guido Puletti APS

G.U.S. implements projects in the fields of migrants’ reception and integration, international development cooperation, humanitarian emergency response, rights protection, and global citizenship education. Through its activities, the organisation seeks to strengthen social cohesion, promote equal opportunities, and combat educational poverty and social inequalities.

Main areas of intervention include:

• protection of human rights and social inclusion;

• migrant reception and integration;

• international development cooperation;

• humanitarian emergency response;

• global citizenship education;

• prevention of educational poverty and social exclusion.

The programme targeted students aged 11 to 19 who were at risk of social exclusion, facing economic, family, or geographical barriers that could negatively affect their educational and personal development.

L.E.A.P. was implemented in the Srebrenica and Tuzla areas, regions where educational and social disparities remain particularly significant. The programme sought to address educational poverty by fostering academic achievement, psychological wellbeing, motivation, and future educational and employment opportunities.

The initiative adopted a multidisciplinary and community-centred approach, combining individual educational support, extracurricular activities, psychological counselling, motivational pathways, career guidance, and home visits to vulnerable families.

Implementation was carried out in partnership with Tuzlanska Amica, the Ministry of Education of Tuzla Canton, local schools, social services, and education professionals, creating a comprehensive support system for participating students.

Quantitative results:

• 1,181 students and 326 parents participated in programme activities.

• 285 individual assessments and targeted support interventions were delivered through the Enjoy School Centre.

• 77 students received academic support, achieving a 100% school pass rate.

• 75 young people participated in socio-emotional workshops and wellbeing activities.

• 233 families were reached through home visits designed to remove barriers to school participation.

• Career and education guidance pathways engaged 62 students interested in higher education and 100 young people in activities aimed at developing skills for labour market entry.

Qualitative results:

• The programme strengthened students’ motivation, self-confidence, and personal development, particularly among those facing situations of vulnerability.

• Its highly personalised approach enabled the early identification of educational and social challenges, ensuring that students received tailored support based on their needs.

• Family engagement activities contributed to reducing obstacles to educational participation and creating more supportive learning environments.

• Strong collaboration among schools, social services, public authorities, and civil society organisations reinforced a sustainable local support network for young people.

• The programme demonstrated the effectiveness of an integrated model combining educational assistance, psychosocial support, family outreach, and educational and career guidance.

Overall, L.E.A.P. successfully contributed to reducing educational poverty and the risk of social exclusion in the Srebrenica and Tuzla regions, offering vulnerable young people concrete opportunities for personal growth, educational achievement, and future social and economic inclusion.