The Universitat Rovira i Virgili has accompanied 14 former foster care youth through the Amb-Èxit-Ed program, an initiative launched three years ago to facilitate their access and continuation in university studies.
The project starts from a clear gap. While three out of every four foster care youth do not complete compulsory secondary education (ESO), the university has begun to open a specific pathway for a group with very little presence in classrooms and with added obstacles such as housing or lack of family support.
URV accompanies 14 young people with aid and personal support
The initiative has the support of the Department of Social Rights of the Generalitat and combines financial aid with personalized support during the university stage. The program covers the purchase of materials, the dining scholarship, administrative guidance, and personal support.
Carme Garcia, program coordinator and commissioner for Relations with the Department of Education of the URV, identifies this as one of the main barriers to entry.
"The reality is that former foster care youth are very underrepresented at university, and we want to make it less difficult for them" - Carme Garcia, program coordinator and commissioner for Relations with the Department of Education of URV
In addition to financial aid, the program seeks to cover the absence of family role models at a time when many academic and daily procedures depend on that support. The university proposes this follow-up as a tool to sustain the continuation of studies.
Three out of every four foster care youth do not finish ESO before reaching this pathway
This data conditions the entire previous journey. If the majority do not complete compulsory education, access to university is limited even before facing the cost of studies or residential stability.
Irene Márquez, a first-year Social Education student, explains that during ESO she did not consider going to university. The support of teachers and the program, she adds, was what gave her the motivation to take that step.
Laura Frau, a third-year Social Education student and participant in Amb-Èxit-Ed, also summarizes the change in approach she has found during her time at URV.
"We former foster care youth have to understand that the past does not define us and that we have the capacity to study" - Laura Frau, third-year Social Education student
The Universitat Rovira i Virgili launched Amb-Èxit-Ed three years ago with the support of the Departament de Drets Socials of the Generalitat and, since then, has accompanied 14 former foster care youth in their access and continuity at the university.