Finding the Courage to Begin Again: How ALMA Sparked a New Chapter for Lithuania’s Youth

Before the ALMA initiative, Mykolas from Lithuania felt stuck in a rut. He had completed studies in multimedia and computer network administration, and dreamed of a career in web design, but the reality was different.

“I hadn’t worked for a long time,” he admits. “I wanted to learn independently, but I didn’t know where to start. Procrastination took over. It felt like I was lost in a maze without a map.”

For young adults across Europe who are not in employment, education, or training, the road forward can feel overwhelmingly uncertain. But the ALMA initiative, which stands for Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve, is working hard to change that.

One of its projects, the Business Accelerator in Lithuania, set out to do something bold: take 21 young people from Lithuania and help them rediscover what was possible through a unique three-step journey involving structured training at home, a work-related learning experience in another country, and continuous follow-up support with mentoring.

A life-changing experience found Mykolas through a simple call from the Employment Service: “They offered me a spot. I thought, ‘What do I have to lose?’”

He had no idea the answer would be: his fears.

An Unexpected Lesson

On the other end of the spectrum, Rima Boškevičienė, the Business Accelerator project coordinator, thought she knew what to expect. With years of experience in youth development and international projects, she felt ready for the challenge.

“I thought this would not be a difficult project. But I quickly learned that today’s youth, especially those long out of work, are facing deeper, more complex issues.”

At first, the results were discouraging. The motivation was low. Dropout rates seemed inevitable.

“Halfway through, I would’ve said the project was failing,” Rima confesses. But slowly, something changed. With the help of structured personal development sessions, which included psychological training, coaching, team-building exercises, and hands-on support, participants began to open up.

“I realised that many of the participants live in fear,” she explains. “Some are scared to leave their homes. But they dream of travel, of being part of something bigger. Once we tapped into that, real growth began.”

After training in Lithuania, twelve participants, including Mykolas, headed to Madeira, Portugal, for a work-related learning experience. Meanwhile, the rest of the group travelled to Sweden. That was when the real change began to take hold.

From Madeira’s Mountains to Inner Clarity

For Mykolas, Madeira wasn’t just a destination – it was a revelation.

“The mountains left the biggest impression,” he says. “I’d never seen anything like it. Lithuania is so flat. It was like stepping into another world.”

But it wasn’t just the landscape that changed him. The inner work, he says, mattered even more.

“I learned to trust myself. I began facing my past and my fears. I became more confident. I made connections. It was like someone had cleaned the windows I’d been looking through, and I could finally see.”

One of the most powerful parts of ALMA is its mentorship element. Each participant had the opportunity to interact with professionals in their host country – people they might never have met otherwise.

“This initiative gave me the chance to interact with professionals who might otherwise be hard to reach,” Mykolas explains. “That’s where the magic happens.”

Rima agrees. She describes how the group dynamic, and mentorship in particular, became an engine for change.

“When they saw others in the same boat, trying, failing, learning – they began to push each other. And the mentors played a huge role. They didn’t just teach. They believed in them.”

Connection That Builds Confidence

Rima claims that the most moving part of Mykolas’s and other Lithuanians’ stories, however, is the emotional transformation that occurs.

“Some young people didn’t want to come home. Imagine that! After months of doubt and fear, they felt a sense of belonging again. They felt seen,” she says.

Stepping outside their comfort zones wasn’t easy, but having the support of their peers and mentors made all the difference.

Still, not all young people felt at ease with the challenges they faced. One participant, for example, turned down a job offer in Sweden and chose to return to the quiet life of their hometown instead.

“It was really saddening,” Rima admits. “But it also made me realise that change needs to start even earlier. Initiatives like this should be reaching young people while they’re still in adolescence.”

Still, the numbers speak volumes: more than half of participants in the Business Accelerator project found jobs afterwards.

“That’s more than we expected,” Rima smiles. “We reached 67%. And that means everything.”

Igniting Desire to Strive for More

Today, Mykolas is determined to keep moving forward. He has already found a job and is seeking to gain new skills beyond his current professional field. He dreams of more travel, more growth, and a future built on purpose.

“I realised I haven’t seen much of the world. I want to be inspired. I want to feel more,” he says.

To others like him, he offers heartfelt advice: “Don’t be afraid. Life is about experiencing more. Walk directly into your fears because that’s where confidence lives.”

And while ALMA helped him better understand himself, it also changed the way he sees his place in the world.

“Before this experience, I already felt pro-European,” he says. “But now, I see how united and diverse Europe really is. It’s full of opportunities if you’re brave enough to take them.”

The Business Accelerator is a powerful reminder that real change doesn’t always come from institutions or policies; it comes from people.

From a young man standing on the edge of the Atlantic, realising he still has time. And from a mentor watching young people’s walls come down, one training session at a time.

The ALMA initiative, co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus Social Innovation+ initiative, is building more than employability. It’s building belief, and reminding every young person: ‘Your limits are where you define them.’

At its heart, ALMA reimagines Europe as a place where second chances bloom, futures intertwine, and possibilities become real. It brings to life rediscovered dreams, new experiences, and stronger selves – but only if you’re willing to take a leap of faith.

Learn more: Business Accelerator project

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