In Italy, the NEET phenomenon (young people who are neither in education nor employment) is among the most serious in Europe: in 2022, there were 1.4 million such young people, accounting for nearly 20% of the youth population, with the highest numbers among 17- to 19-year-olds. The main causes are dropping out of school and a lack of professional skills, exacerbated by socioeconomic inequalities: in fact, NEETs account for 23% of young people from poor families, compared to 12% among the wealthiest.

STEP (Support Training Education Placement for Vulnerable Youth Project)—carried out with the support of the Citi Foundation and in collaboration with La Cometa SCS and the Associazione Amici di Edoardo—is dedicated to young people in Lombardy who are neither in education nor employment. We offer them personalized pathways and targeted educational support to develop transferable and professional skills capable of better aligning corporate demand with the supply of skills.

The project aims to identify innovative approaches to re-engage vulnerable youth and facilitate their access to vocational training and the labor market through three main objectives:

1. Support young people by offering personalized training and career pathways. Educators and tutors identify each young person’s needs, potential, and goals, suggesting they attend the “Work Gym”—with modules dedicated to developing skills in digital literacy, safety, financial literacy, labor rights, artificial intelligence, and volunteering—or vocational training courses—with the possibility of securing internships or job placements. On this basis, individual educational plans are developed in collaboration with the services supporting the young people and, when necessary, with the involvement of their families. Financial and legal support is also provided for young people in need, along with a job help desk that offers assistance with resume writing, active job search, and interview preparation.

2. Bridging the gap between skills and business needs. With the support of the University of Milan, the project promotes research on the skills most in demand by the job market and on the topic of inclusion, updating training curricula and measuring the impact of the actions taken.

3. Improving young people’s financial literacy. For many young people, managing money is a daily challenge and risk, which is why the project offers short courses in financial education—covering budgeting, saving, mindful spending, and personal planning—to develop skills that help them manage their financial lives with balance and responsibility.

Beneficiaries
Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in vulnerable situations (NEETs, at-risk students, young people with migrant backgrounds, disabilities, or special educational needs), often without a high school diploma or work experience, and with histories of exclusion. The project will accept both unsolicited applications and referrals from social services, partners, or judicial authorities. In Milan, about half of the participants will come from the juvenile justice system or the reception system for unaccompanied foreign minors, requiring personalized, short-term, and quickly applicable pathways. Cometa SCS will focus in particular on young people with disabilities, offering targeted support to overcome barriers to educational and workplace inclusion.