According to Eurostat, in 2011, 7.5 million young people aged 15–24 and an additional 6.5 million young people aged 25–29 were excluded from the labour market and education in Europe. Moreover there was a a significant increase in the NEETS rate in the previous years. The economic cost of not integrating NEETs is estimated at over €150 billion, or 1.2% of GDP, in 2011 figures.
NEETs are a very heterogeneous population. Some young people are at greater risk of being NEET than others: for example those with low levels of education, young people with an immigration background, disabled people, young people suffering from some kind of health issues, etc.
Being NEET has severe adverse consequences for the individual, society and the economy. Spending time as NEET may lead to a wide range of social disadvantages, such as disaffection, insecure and poor future employment, youth offending, and mental and physical health problems.
In 2011, the economic loss due to the disengagement of young people from the labour market was €153 billion. This is a conservative estimate and corresponds to 1.2% of European GDP.
The project will contribute to increase employability of NEET’s by sharing good practices and test new work-based-learning methods in four European cities (Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Belgium). From experiences of the sharing and testing process, an intellectual output will be elaborated which would be highly adaptable, accessible and profitable for other European non-governmental or governmental organizations who work with NEET people.
Due to the transnational project implementation, different solutions could be shared and real mutual learning will be established.
- Professionals of partner organizations working in the field of youth services
- Youngsters at risk of socio-economical exclusion (18-30 years old)
Planned activities
In order to reach its goals, the project is based on the following phases of implementation:
a) Share experience, present successful methods/best practices:
Every partner organization introduces at least one (or two) of its successfully carried out projects which were useful among in their target groups and helped them to enter the labor market. Due to the this phase, 4 new methods/programs and its details and results will be presented.
b) Test a new method including adaptation the methods to local context:
Every organization will choose one method among the 3-6 new ones which is the most applicable for their target groups and in their city.
c) Learn from the test and experiences, share experiences of the test phase, needed modifications
e) Disseminate the project outcomes and results (including intellectual output), make it available for the shareholders, other interested European or national organizations, NEETs, decision-makers etc.
Info: comunicazione@icei.it
Official project website: www.uploadyourdreams.eu