Back to search

„ConNEEcT (Connect NEET)”

2021-1-PL01-KA153-YOU-0000192772021Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: PL|SK|IT|SI|PT|BG|ES|CZ|MK|HU|RO · Grant: €28,687
Equal access and transition to labour marketEuropean identity and valuesInclusion of marginalised young people

Objectives

For various reasons, not all young people can be fully engaged in the labor market. There is a group of young people who are neither employed nor participating in education or training, commonly referred to as "NEET." These young people who are neither employed nor participating in education are at risk of social exclusion, characterized by low income and lack of skills that could improve their economic situation. Unlike unemployment or employment, there is no international standard for defining NEET. Eurostat, the International Labor Organization and other organizations have adopted the following definition: NEET is the population in a specific age group and gender group that is not employed and does not participate in further education. At the European level, the term NEET has received immediate value as an additional indicator of youth unemployment, marginalization and lack of involvement. Because NEETs do not increase their future employability through skills development or gain experience through employment, they are at high risk of both labor market exclusion and social marginalization. According to Eurostat data from 2019. 16.4% of people aged 20-34 in the EU were NEET. The percentage of young people in this situation ranged from 7.3% in Sweden to 27.8% in Italy. Compared to other EU countries, the situation in Poland was relatively good. In 2019. 8.8% of young men and 23.7% of young women in Poland could be categorized as NEET. However, women's NEET figures were alarming in several other countries: 27% in Spain, 27.7% in Latvia, 27.8% in Romania, 30.6% in Greece, 33.2% in Italy and 37.4% in North Macedonia. Knowledge of this phenomenon and the requesting organization's own experience based on years of working with young people established the urgent need for action. It was decided to organize a contact seminar on NEET youth, with the participation of various EU countries. At the EU level, NEET youth have been identified as one of the most difficult groups in the context of youth unemployment. The main objective of the contact seminar, named "ConNEEcT (Connect NEET)," was to promote national, international and regional cooperation between youth workers. In particular, the focus was on exchanging experiences and knowledge about working with NEET youth and promoting their inclusion and involvement in social dialogue. The specific objectives were as follows: - to create a platform for sharing diverse realities, exchanging experiences and best practices in working with NEET youth and those at risk of social exclusion, - to develop practical materials, such as a brochure entitled "Re-ConNEEcT" with recommendations on how to engage NEET youth in post-pandemic society, for dissemination to youth workers and other stakeholders, - to promote social inclusion and youth engagement to enhance EU social cohesion, - to facilitate networking among participants and create opportunities for project development, particularly in the context of the Erasmus+ program, - to hold a national press conference on NEET inclusion in the post-pandemic era. The main themes of the project were in line with the principles of the Europe 2020 strategy, Education and Training 2020 (ET 2020) and Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The project's objectives and goals were in line with the objectives of the Erasmus+ youth program, in particular with Key Action 1. Through the project, the capacity of youth workers was strengthened, enabling them to effectively support NEET youth and make connections between them and potential employment opportunities. By bridging the gap between education, training and the labor market, the project aimed to empower NEETs and improve their prospects for a better future.

Project partners (11)