Let's imagine Anna, a woman, 41 years of age, living in a small town in your area i.e. in the country of the Validation of Learning project partner.

Following compulsary education Anna did not take up further studies but started an apprenticeship / training as a waitress.  Continuing this role for a few years until at the age of 20 she got married and subsequently between the ages of 21 and 27 years gave birth to four children.  The marriage ended in divorce at the age of 30 with an agreement to a shared parental responsibility for their four children.

Now in 2009 her youngest child is 14 years old, and Anna feels that she needs to improve her career prospects. Besides her initial work as a waitress after leaving full-time education, for the past 11 years she has worked part time, on average 16 hours per week, as an unqualified care assistant in two nursing / retirement homes for the elderly.

Now, in 2009, Anna feels that she emerges from long days, consisting of very hard periods of work as a care assistant coupled with caring for her children.  It is time for change and she feels very strongly that she would like to formally qualify in this vocation which would then give her both a more rewarding career and improved financial prospects. After all she has more than 20 years of active working life left, and this, together with her love for the work she is doing for the elderly and infirm, is a strong motivational factor in her desire to restart at the school bench as an adult learner. 

Each partner, please explain how Anna in your country could proceed to reach her professional goal:

1. What first steps can she take in order to launch her education & training project?
2. Who/what public and private institutions/bodies can help her? What kind of support could she get there? (see also 4)
3. What financial help can she get?
4. Who can give her information on the training options, and who can give her advice?
5. What professional title can she aim at (her education and training will last for a maximum of 2 years)
6. What improvements can she hope for in her life situation (job title, employment security, better wages)?
7. How much better will she be paid when she is formally qualified?
8. Other comments.