ART-RAVALÓ is a pioneering socio-art project aimed at empowering young adults transitioning out of state care in Hungary. The programme provides 12-15 participants with nine months of comprehensive support, focusing on life skills, self-image, career orientation, and social integration. Research highlights the challenges these young adults face, including risks of homelessness, unemployment, and exploitation. ART-RAVALÓ uses artistic expression combined with practical guidance to help participants build the confidence and skills needed for independent adulthood.
Key elements of the programme:
1. Artistic Expression: ART-RAVALÓ incorporates arts-based activities to foster personal development and self-expression, enhancing the participants' self-esteem and social integration.
2. Career Orientation: The programme offers training, helping participants navigate educational and employment opportunities.
3. Practical Support: Participants receive free housing, catering, and transportation.
The initiative ensures that participants have access to the resources they need to make the transition to independent adulthood: from life skills development to professional growth.
In 2024, ART-RAVALÓ faced financial difficulties following the withdrawal of its main supporter. To address this, the Foundation is stepping in to help the programme diversify its funding sources. This includes increasing grant applications and securing corporate and private supporters. A part-time fundraiser and a fundraising expert will be funded to strengthen the programme's sustainability.
In the meantime, the ART-RAVALÓ team will use their own resources to run a smaller programme in the Esztergom Special Childcare Centre, a safe space for vulnerable girls (aged 12-18) who have experienced trauma, abuse, or exploitation. Marta Schermann, the artistic director of ART-RAVALÓ, previously conducted a theatre project at the centre in 2016, and it will now serve as a pilot location. The programme will run weekly workshops for a group of 12-15 girls, focusing on similar modules and outcomes as the main programme but adapted to the specific needs of this group and the present finances available.
With the Foundation’s help, ART-RAVALÓ aims to achieve long-term sustainability with stability in its funding. The team aim to stabilise funding to enable the annual repetition of the Esztergom pilot programme and, if funding allows, to relaunch the national-scale programme. By securing a diverse funding base through grants, private donations, and corporate supporters, ART-RAVALÓ envisions a future where its life-changing programme is consistently available to those who need it most.
