Not in Education. Not in Employment. Not in Training. The acronym NEET has become a label, a shorthand for young people who have slipped through the cracks. But behind the statistics are real lives—youth with dreams, skills, and resilience waiting to be recognized.

The story of NEETs in Europe is not just about absence. It’s about potential that remains untapped.

Being outside of school or work is often seen as a failure of the individual. But the reality is systemic. Poverty, discrimination, migration, and lack of opportunity create barriers that no amount of “motivation” alone can overcome. NEETs are not disengaged because they want to be. They are disengaged because the pathways available to others have been blocked for them.

And yet, when these barriers are addressed—through access to education, vocational training, mentorship, or simply a chance to participate—young people quickly prove how much they have to offer. They become entrepreneurs, community leaders, cultural ambassadors. They show that inclusion is not a gift bestowed, but a right upheld.

Unlocking this potential begins with reframing. Instead of seeing NEET youth as a problem to fix, we must see them as citizens in waiting—already equipped with ideas, talents, and perspectives that society needs. Programs that invest in them are not acts of charity. They are acts of justice, and of foresight.

Because today’s excluded youth are tomorrow’s workforce, innovators, and voters. Supporting them means investing in the democratic and economic health of Europe itself.

The path forward requires three commitments:

• Access: Ensuring that education, training, and employment opportunities are truly open to all, regardless of background.
• Support: Providing mentorship, resources, and safe spaces where disadvantaged youth can grow without stigma.
• Participation: Inviting young people into decision-making processes, not as tokens, but as equal partners shaping their communities.

When NEETs are empowered to step into active citizenship, the impact ripples outward. Communities become more inclusive. Economies become more resilient. Democracies become more representative.

During the project Defending the Right to Humanity for All, we spoke a lot on how to change the perspective on these young people. We believe that no young person is “lost.” Every youth carries a spark of possibility—and when given the tools and trust to contribute, they ignite change far beyond themselves.