The project aim was to create a new evidence-based youth work intervention that can be applied in different cultural contexts to support NEETs in developing SDL skills and reintegrating into education and employment. The project aimed to develop a new youth work method that would transform NEETs' learning attitudes and skills, strengthen the interdisciplinary role of youth work, and create a method that, developed through international collaboration, can be effectively applied across different cultural contexts.
The project was initiated in response to the high percentage of young people in the European Union (13.1% in 2021) who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). Education plays a crucial role in preventing NEET status, and participation in lifelong learning is essential for skill development and adapting to societal changes. NEETs often have lower well-being, lack 'soft' skills, and feel pessimistic about their future prospects. Employers also highlight the lack of basic and life skills among young people leaving the education system. To address this, a shift in learning attitudes and skills is needed. The project emphasised self-directed learning (SDL) as a key competence for NEETs, which involves individuals taking responsibility for their learning and setting their own goals. Youth work, with its open access to learning experiences, is identified as an effective way to develop SDL skills. The need for the project arose from the lack of sufficient interventions in youth work and in generally that support NEET youth in developing the skills that would bring them back onto the path of learning.