Context:
In 2021, the European Union (EU) faced a concerning issue with a high percentage of young individuals aged 15 to 29 falling into the category of Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). Specifically, 13.1% of young people were classified as NEET, which raised significant alarms, particularly in rural regions. This situation not only negatively impacted the well-being and living standards of NEETs but also posed threats to the social and economic sustainability of these areas.
To address this pressing challenge, the EU set a target to reduce the NEET rate to below 9% by 2030 and recognized the revitalization of rural regions as a shared European vision. In response, the Back on Track project was developed as a means to tackle these challenges and contribute to achieving these common goals.
Objectives:
Back on Track aims to foster the integration of rural NEETs into society, education, and labour market in the Danube Region. By implementing customized remote education & mentoring programs, rural NEETs experience an enhanced digital inclusion, resulting in strengthened resilience, increased intellectual potential and human capital. Additionally, through boosted virtual mobility, their overall quality of life improves significantly, paving the way for them to get back on track again.
Activities:
To achieve its objectives, the project will establish a transnational cross-sectoral stakeholder network to ensure the long-term sustainability of its outcomes. It will also develop a strategy for successful outreach to rural NEETs, implement a mentoring programme and create an innovative digital training model tailored to the identified needs of rural NEETs. Through these efforts, the project aims to provide a pathway and new prospects for individual development, training and career orientation without the need to leave rural areas.
Opening conference: "NEETs in the Danube Region"
The Back on Track (BoT) Project, funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, officially commenced its journey with an impactful Opening Conference on 12 February 2024, organised by ÖJAB in collaboration with the YES Forum. The event, serving as both the launch of the project and the kick-off conference, marked a crucial step in addressing the challenges faced by NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training) in the Danube Region.
First stakeholder workshop
On 19 June 2024, the "Back on Track" project hosted its first online stakeholder workshop, titled "Unlocking the Potential of NEETs: Join the 'Back on Track' initiative". The event, organised by PRIZMA Foundation in collaboration with project partners, brought together 48 participants via Zoom.
Project details:
Action: Interreg Danube Region
Project coordinator: ÖJAB
Duration: 2024 - 2026
Project's website: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/back-on-track
Project partners:
- South Muntenia Regional Development Agency
- ADEL Slovakia
- DEX Innovation centre
- Development Association NERDA
- Pannon Novum West-Transdanubian Regional Innovation Nonprofit Ltd.
- Philanthropy, Charitable Foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church
- Foundation for Improvement of Employment Possibilities PRIZMA
- Human Innovation Group Nonprofit Ltd.
- YES Forum
- ipcenter.at Ltd.
- Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency
- Ministry of Economy of Tuzla Canton
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
