The project aims to empower Civil Society Organizations in the field of inclusive volunteering to increase the civic participation of NEET youths. Inclusive volunteering provides opportunities for all individuals, regardless of age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or degree of disability. The project's goals include understanding the needs of NEET youths regarding volunteering, grasping the demands of the CSOs associated with the consortium in the area, and promoting organizational changes in the CSOs through the training of professionals. We seek to strengthen transnational cooperation in the youth sector by establishing partnerships with European organizations for the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The project promotes the dissemination of the advantages of volunteering for NEET youths, formalizes and qualifies voluntary work in CSOs, increases the capacity of the consortium and associated CSOs in the field of inclusive volunteering, and creates transnational networks in the youth sector.The project is aligned with the priorities of the Program, aiming to promote active citizenship, develop social skills, , and involve young people in democratic and social life.
We prepared this application because in 2020, 13.7% of young people aged between 15 and 29 in the European Union were not employed, were not studying or undergoing training, and were part of the group known as NEET young people. The presence of young people outside the educational, training, and labor market systems represented a threat to social cohesion and to the experience of European citizenship, as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This also made them vulnerable to problems such as substance abuse, criminal activities, and social exclusion. The main objectives of this project were to meet the needs of these young people, mobilizing civil society, especially the consortium and partner entities, to promote inclusion and contribute to the European Commission's target of reducing the proportion of NEET young people to 9% by 2030. Volunteer work brought benefits to these young NEETs, such as professional experience and contact networks, communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Volunteering also offered the opportunity to demonstrate commitment, motivation, and enthusiasm, resulting in greater confidence.