Back on Track: Empowering Rural NEETs in the Danube Region

The "Back on Track" initiative is a transformative project designed to foster the integration of rural NEETs (youth not in employment, education, or training) into society, education, and the labor market within the Danube Region. Launched in January 2024 and now in its third phase, the project is already demonstrating its impact through innovative approaches and cross-border collaboration.

Back on Track engaged multiple organizations, including Philanthropy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, NERDA, PANOV, HICS, SZ REDA, MPTK, ÖJAB, SMRDA, DEX IC, YES Forum, ADEL Slovakia, PRIZMA, and IPC. This collaborative effort brought together countries and NGOs from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia to foster cross-border cooperation.

The Challenge: Addressing Rural NEETs

In 2021, over 73 million young people across the EU were classified as NEETs, representing 13.1% of the 15-29 age group. NEET rates in the Danube Region show stark disparities, with the highest rates in Bosnia and Herzegovina (21.0%), Romania (20.1%), and Bulgaria (17.2%), and the lowest in Austria (8.8%), Germany (8.7%), and Slovenia (7.0%) (Eurostat 2021). Rural NEETs face unique challenges, including limited access to employment, education, and training opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and lower occupational expectations. These barriers lead to higher unemployment and dropout rates, as well as increased risks of poverty and social exclusion.

The impact extends beyond individuals, affecting the social and economic sustainability of rural areas. Challenges such as depopulation and brain drain further exacerbate regional inequalities, while the transformation of the labor market, driven by automation and digitalization, requires new skills.

The Project’s Vision: Digital Inclusion and Resilience

Back on Track addresses issues by promoting digital inclusion for rural NEETs, bridging the gap between urban and rural areas. Customized remote education and mentoring programs are at the core of the initiative, providing virtual access to educational and employment opportunities. This approach enhances digital literacy, strengthens resilience, and boosts intellectual potential, ultimately improving the quality of life for rural NEETs and paving the way for them to reintegrate into society.

Phased Implementation and Collaboration

The project, containing of five phases, began with Philanthropy leading efforts to collect and document primary and secondary data on the identified needs of rural NEETs.

Philanthropy, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and other partners, actively contributed to engaging NEETs through outreach strategies and the development of a comprehensive Joint Strategy for 2025–2030, tailored to their specific needs. Key initiatives included forming a Stakeholder Network, organizing Peer Review Group (PRG) meetings, and creating an Action Plan addressing NEET challenges in Serbia, focusing on social inclusion, skill development, and labor market integration. Philanthropy has also developed a module, which is one of the six modules that together make up the curriculum for working with mentors in all 10 countries of the "Back on Track" program, providing personalized support to NEET individuals from rural areas.

Currently, in its third phase, the project is implementing a mentoring pilot program to create individual integration plans for rural NEETs. Personalized information and career guidance are complemented by a tailored digital learning course that enhances basic skills, resilience, and self-management. These initiatives empower rural NEETs to access further education and training, building their intellectual potential and improving their mental well-being.

 

A Sustainable Future: The Transnational Stakeholder Network

A cornerstone of Back on Track’s sustainability is the establishment of a transnational, cross-sectoral stakeholder network. This network unites experts, government bodies, educational institutions, employers, NGOs, and community organizations to develop and share project outputs. By ensuring the integration of project outcomes into various sectors, the network facilitates long-term adoption and implementation of the project’s results.

The collaborative efforts of the project partners and associated strategic partners ensure that Back on Track’s outputs are effectively disseminated, securing the durability of its impacts well beyond its conclusion.

A Path Forward

Back on Track is more than a project—it is a mission to strengthen rural NEETs’ resilience, integrate them into education and employment, and counteract rural-urban migration and brain drain. By promoting virtual mobility and digital inclusion, the initiative transforms challenges into opportunities, ensuring balanced territorial development and fostering cross-border learning.

This transformative project reaffirms the EU’s goal of turning brain drain into brain gain, creating a brighter future for rural NEETs and revitalizing the Danube Region.