S.TR.O.N.G.: A successful initiative for NEETs in Italy
2025
S.TR.O.N.G.: A successful initiative for NEETs in Italy
Between October 2023 and February 2025, the S.TR.O.N.G. -Supporting Traineeship Opportunities for NEETs to Grow project was implemented, offering young unemployed individuals a structured path toward personal and professional growth. Coordinated by Essenia UETP, the local Eurodesk point of Salerno (Italy), the project sees the participation as a partner of Eurodesk Italy, member of ERYICA.
S.TR.O.N.G was one of the 29 projects approved all over Europe under the new Initiative launched by the European Commission: A.L.M.A. – Achieve, Learn, Master, Achieved, funded by the European Social Fund+ Social Innovation+. The project allowed 21 unemployed job seekers between 18 and 29 years old to participate in a personalised path of personal and professional growth.
S.TR.O.N.G. was structured in various steps: an initial preparation phase, followed by a four-month traineeship abroad and then concluded with a career guidance and support activity upon return aimed at entering the world of work or engaging in further education. The results of the project, presented during the Final Event held last 30th of January in which also the participants have shared their experience confirm the effectiveness of the initiative in promoting the social and professional integration of NEETs: all participants evaluated the experience positively, considering it useful for acquiring transversal and professional skills, for orienting themselves in the job market, as well as for finding self-confidence and acquiring autonomy and motivation. More than 60% of participants found a job or chose to continue their studies.
The strengths of the initiative were the experience of Essenia UETP srl, which, active since 1991 in the sector of Euro-project planning, coordinated the project by taking care of all the training and organisational phases and the solid and structured partnership, which also included institutional actors such as the Campania Region and the Municipality of Baronissi, which supported Essenia in the implementation of some specific project activities.
Eurodesk Italy was the partner in charge of dissemination and contributed to the career guidance sessions to give them an overview of further European opportunities. Training institutions and job agencies supported the accompaniment in preparing for the traineeship and in the follow-up phase, while Fondazione Casamica and schools supported the involvement of the participants. The University of Salerno contributed to the monitoring and evaluation of the initiative.
The experience of S.TR.O.N.G. has shown NEETs that investing in their education and undertaking an experience abroad can make a difference and open the doors to new professional and personal perspectives. Thanks to the innovative approach and collaboration between institutions, businesses and training centers, the project has represented a concrete example of good practices for the work and social inclusion of young people. Therefore, a successful experience that leaves an important legacy: a replicable model to offer NEETs new opportunities and a structured path to accompany them to the world of work.
