Grants for mobility under the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme The European Commission has allocated assistance totalling ECU 29.7 million for mobility grants under Strand I of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme. This will be distributed among 22 participating countries, including for the first time the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and C... The European Commission has allocated assistance totalling ECU 29.7 million for mobility grants under Strand I of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme. This will be distributed among 22 participating countries, including for the first time the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Cyprus, and will allow over 17,600 young people to carry out a period of training outside their own country. The placements vary in length, from short-term placements of between three and twelve weeks to longer term placements of three to nine months. Those involved in providing training for young people will also have the opportunity to participate in exchanges of between two and eight weeks, enabling them to exchange experiences with their counterparts in another country. The sectors of activity in which placements and exchanges take place are extremely varied, and cover areas such as industry, agriculture and services. The overall aim is to provide an opportunity to those involved to acquire certified occupational experience and, in the case of longer placements, to acquire additional skills. According to Mrs. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner for research, innovation, education, training and youth, "these mobility measures make it possible to broaden one's horizons and reinforces young people's capacity to learn, and in so doing, helps prepare them for the labour market".
