One of the main goals is to improve the inclusion of children and youngsters in the fields of school education and vocational and job training, giving particular attention to those at risk of school drop out. The means to achieve this are increase in formal school education, professional skills and employability giving them the appropriate competences. Another goal is the improvement of personal and social competencies through the Youth Place where the target population can find activities linked to information, orientation, advice, sports, culture and fine arts that promote interculturality, citizenship, healthy life styles, parental competences and digital inclusion. Moreover, the project also intends to improve school competencies through the increase of school success and reduction of absenteeism. The project team also intends to promote capacity building among the youngsters towards planning, implementation and evaluation of the projects they propose for themselves and for the community. This is reached through civic participation, entrepreneurial competences, involvement in training actions and guidance along the implementation of the initiatives.

There are two types of beneficiaries: youngsters aged between 11 and 24, and optional beneficiaries, such as relatives or other individuals who do not fit in the former categories. The youngsters reside in the administrative parish of Laranjeiro and Feijó, mostly in council housing estates. A considerable proportion is from immigrant descent, being Saint Tomé and Príncipe and Cape Verde the two main geographical origins.

The project, managed by the Association of Solidarity and Development of Laranjeiro (ASDL), functions as a multidisciplinary team responsible for the activities proposed. The PlusXL social network is composed of ten members working as a consortium in partnership. The activities respond to three general objectives made up of nine specific goals, essential for the development of personal, social, training and job competencies of youngsters and families mostly being developed in the Youth Place. As far as the school competences are concerned, besides the work developed in the Youth Place and in the schools, there are two Integrated Programmes of Education and Training (PIEF) groups and a Training Course for Youngsters to complement the responses at this level.

During 30 months, 38 participants were certified through the Integrated Programme of Education and Training (PIEF) groups that were initially set up for the 1st and 2nd cycles of education, and in the latest school year, for the 3rd cycle of education. Ten youngsters were routed to employment and a job solution was found. Through the courses of the Vocational Training Centre of Seixal and the Education and Training Courses directly followed by the project, 18 youngsters were certified. Eighty participants who were at risk of school drop out or unemployment saw their life projects and future professional perspectives enhanced. There were significant changes in the personal, social and school competencies of 407 participants.

The project is evaluated by the team, the youngsters and the consortium. The evaluation of the participation of recipients / beneficiaries in the planning of the project considered that the youngsters have an active and participative posture. Through the information technologies there is major feedback. The consortium identified as strengths:

• the diversity of activities for the young people, 
• an extended team that is available to do the follow up and to guide the youngsters,
• the formation of the PIEF groups, and the ambition and effort of the team. 

The project receives funding from the Choices Programme (Programa Escolhas) and co-funding from the Human Potential Operational Programme (POPH), the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN) and the European Social Fund. The resources are those made available by the consortium, such as the facilities for the Sports Atelier (in the schools of the region), or by the administrative parishes or even by the municipal authorities (Almada city council).