Project „Internship abroad – investment in my professional future” was directed at two groups of students (involving 18 students and 2 teachers each) aged 16-20 from Economic and Tourist Vocational Schools. One group went to Turkey (Izmir) at the beginning, and the other one at the end of Summer 2015. The internship program was divided into two thematic blocks (internal and external functioning of a company and marketing activity). It was an additional 2-week long internship, aimed primarily at young people form difficult backgrounds, having low self-esteem and weaker intellectual capacities. We wanted to create two groups, so as to cooperate more easily and so as to motivate participants to undertake activities, which were to increase their appeal on the labour market. Passive attitude, lack of confidence and frequent interruptions in the course of study were a major problem for the participants. We aimed to get to know them well, as the academic year 2014/15 involved their cultural and linguistic preparation, in cooperation with Turkish hosts. Participants improved their Business English and gained basic knowledge of Turkish. They also took part in workshops and training in self-presentation, negotiation and business activity. The project group organized the linguistic and cultural preparation. We also planned to cooperate with Turkish students, tour guides, and young people taking part in volunteering and trainings. The program was created to satisfy the existing NEEDS of students, employers, local labor market and the school. The needs of these groups became satisfied when these OBJECTIVES have been achieved: - fluency in foreign languages - gaining practical skills in successful running of a small company in the EU market - ability to plan and organize one’s own and team’s activities - decrease in regional unemployment rates - increasing one’s openness and interpersonal skills - development of a tolerant and respectful attitude towards other nations, avoiding stereotypes - transferal of effective solutions into one’s own environment - promotion of one’s region abroad (via press, television and affiliated partners) - gaining ability to present one’s abilities in domestic and foreign labor market - increase in flexibility, creativity, entrepreneurship and mobility - obtaining certificates confirming the acquired vocational experience (Europass-mobility, introduction of ECVET system) - inclusion of entrepreneurs in shaping of educational system and vocational excellence, as well as ways of adapting theses systems to current demands of labor market Achieving these objectives brought about the following RESULTS: - overcoming weaknesses, - presentation of effectiveness and strengths by the youth from areas in a difficult socio-economic situation; - developing creativity and gaining entrepreneurial skills, - gaining the ability to plan and assess one’s own and team’s activities; - developing tolerant attitudes and modification of stereotypes of one’s own and foreign countries; - attesting one’s vocational abilities by obtaining the Europass Mobility - gaining knowledge as to how successfully run one’s own company on European market - ability to communicate in a new language (Turkish) and practicing Business English - increase in openness and gaining of communication skills - acquisition of effective methods of auto – presentation - increase in motivation to develop professional and personal skills - increase in flexibility and mobility - preparation of activity schedules - preparation and analysis of foreign communication and promotional materials - application of different sales techniques depending on the company’s needs - ability to undertake basic market research - ability to promote a company and its products - ability to assess strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats (regarding suppliers, recipients and competition) - ability to apply negotiation skills and provide excellent customer service - gaining accountancy and record keeping skills - obtaining a certificate of completion of internship accompanied with EVECT system documentation The project agenda was adapted to vocational needs and intellectual possibilities of each student. The internship program was created in cooperation with teachers of vocational modules (responsible for practical training), employers, careers advisors and institutions training people who are unemployed, but willing to undertake economic activity. Additionally, daily contact with foreign language during the internship in a foreign country, as well as in the course of stay with a Turkish family, allowed the participants to overcome language barriers, acquire new vocabulary, develop professional relations with people working in tourist and business sectors, familiarize themselves with the possibilities of working and living abroad, thereby increasing theirs future flexibility and mobility on the European labor market.