Despite modest signs of progress, the phenomenon of NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) remains one of the key challenges of our time.
According to Eurostat statistics, in 2024, 11% of young people aged 15 to 29 in the EU were neither employed nor engaged in education or training.
In this article, we will explore the initiatives launched by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation to offer young people pathways for personal and professional growth, transforming inactivity into active participation in the worlds of work and education.
ABF Projects Designed for Young People Not in Education or Employment
ABF develops programmes that connect schools, training settings, and public guidance services, combining educational support, the enhancement of transferable skills, and the promotion of personal well-being.
These initiatives are designed to respond directly and concretely to the challenges experienced by young people, who often face complex obstacles such as unemployment, limited access to educational opportunities, and barriers to entering the labour market.
The initiatives promoted by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation aim to create a support network that extends beyond education alone, placing strong emphasis on personal development and the recognition of individual potential.
Specifically, ABF promotes:
- ABF Globalab, a school, personal, and professional guidance programme for young people aged 16–25, which includes mentoring, workshops, labs, and creative activities designed to support youth in shaping their own life paths. The ABF Globalab programme includes seven initiatives, one of which — ABF Talent4Work — is dedicated explicitly to NEETs;
- ABF Talent4Work, a project within ABF Globalab, focuses on the identification and recognition of transferable skills, particularly socio-emotional skills, to strengthen young people’s self-awareness and autonomy so they can engage with the services or professional opportunities that best match their interests.
Let’s take a closer look.
ABF Globalab: A Guidance Programme for Young People
Launched in 2021, ABF Globalab is an innovative programme dedicated to the educational, professional, and personal guidance of young people aged 16 to 25.
Aligned with Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda — “Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” — the Andrea Bocelli Foundation uses ABF Globalab to address the 16–25 age group through vocational guidance projects. These initiatives are aligned with Target 4.4, which aims to “substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.”
Following the renovation of the new wing of the San Firenze complex, the Foundation’s headquarters, the ABF Globalab programme has evolved from a purely project-based initiative into a physical and operational reality.
The programme is hosted in these new spaces and offers a wide range of activities — from creative workshops to idea contests, individual mentoring, and meetings with companies and professionals.
At the heart of the programme is an active, participatory, and flexible approach that integrates tools such as design thinking, game-based learning, and life design. Thanks to a bottom-up design and a skills monitoring system, ABF Globalab guides young people in discovering their potential and supports them in making informed decisions to build sustainable futures.
One of the distinctive features of Globalab is its strong focus on socio-emotional well-being as a key driver for re-engaging NEET youth. ABF works to create safe, welcoming, and motivating educational environments where every young person can find a sense of belonging, develop self-awareness and an understanding of their strengths, regain confidence, and build a positive relationship with the future.
The support of a multidisciplinary team — composed of educators, pedagogists, psychologists, and guidance counsellors — ensures personalised support that focuses not only on professional development but also on emotional, relational, and psychological well-being.
ABF Talent4Work: The ABF Globalab Project Dedicated to NEETs
Within the ABF Globalab framework, ABF Talent4Work is a dedicated initiative focused on identifying and enhancing young people’s skills — particularly transversal and socio-emotional competencies — to strengthen their self-efficacy, self-awareness, and autonomy as they build their professional path.
Talent4Work does not directly match young people with companies, nor does it maintain formal partnerships with employment centres. Its goal is to support young people in the pre-employment phase, empowering them to independently navigate and connect with services, opportunities, or professional pathways aligned with their goals.
During Talent4Work training sessions, young participants work alongside ABF educators and career advisors on practical activities, such as:
- Communicating their strengths effectively and transforming perceived limitations into personal assets
- Preparing for job interviews and approaching them with confidence
- Writing a coherent and impactful CV
- Developing and managing their digital identity
- Answering the question “Tell me about yourself” authentically and strategically
- Identifying, valuing, and articulating their skills
- Navigating the landscape of professions, training paths, and employment opportunities in Italy and abroad
Since the post-pandemic period, the Foundation has significantly increased its investment in interpersonal skills, recognising them as essential to restoring dialogue, trust, and personal well-being.
Today, this work is evolving to place greater emphasis on critical thinking and active self-awareness. Young people are guided to understand that, by combining digital tools with strong socio-emotional competencies, they can not only find work but also consciously pursue careers that genuinely reflect their personal aspirations, aligning their life goals with professional opportunities.
This approach is a direct response to the growing phenomenon of “quiet quitting” — the silent disengagement from work, which has emerged especially among the younger generations seeking meaning, balance, and a higher quality of professional life.
