(English) eNEET Rural: Final project event in Bucharest

The project partners, national stakeholders and NEETs gathered for the final meeting in Bucharest during the period 31.10.2021-02.11.2021 to celebrate the great success of the eNEET Rural project. The 3-days international event attracted in present about 35 participants from partner’s countries and involved them in several non-formal education activities, workshops, study visits, organized by the Romanian partner (Association CPDIS).

Linked to INDAGRA Exhibition, the most important agricultural fair in Romania, the final event of the project started with a study visit to there. Leaded by CPDIS team, participants visited only the outdoor platforms of the exhibition due to recent covid-restrictions.

The INDAGRA – International Fair of products and equipment in the field of agriculture, viticulture and animal husbandry and INDAGRA FOOD & CARNEXPO – International Fair for the food industry was organized by ROMEXPO in partnership with the Romanian Chambers of Commerce and Industry during the period 27^th – 31^st of October 2021. The exhibition presented the latest trends in the agricultural, viticultural, horticultural and zootechnical, available both on the Romanian and the international market. These were the main reasons for the final project conference to be held during the fair and an exhibition stand of the eNEET Rural to present the project and to give an opportunity to partners, national stakeholders to be able to deepen their contacts and network with other specialists of agro-segment, the exhibitors and visitors of INDAGRA.

After the study visit to INDAGRA, the International eNEET Conference was officially opened with welcoming speech by Mrs. Aleksandra Jasinska – Senior Consultant, Programme & Project Management – Ecorys. As a representative of the Fund Operator and as the Project Expert, Mrs. Jasinska shared “Having the opportunity to follow project progress from the very beginning I would like to thank the whole project team that was dedicated to supporting the youth in their endeavour to go back to the labour market for great work they have done to decrease youth unemployment in six countries covered by this initiative. It is worth noticing that it was a challenge to reach rural youth who was targeted by the project, hence I am even more impressed by the great project outreach”.  

The local presenters of the event covered the wide range of speakers active in agro and youth development including the National Institute of Statistics, President of the Balneoclimateric cities, representatives of the University of Agronomy and the governmental institute of Agriculture and Youth.

Based on the presented information and analysis by the national stakeholders during the International conference some general conclusions in respect to NEETs and rural areas in Romania were summarized:

• Romania has an increased rate of young NEETs. The causes that lead young Romanians in the situation of being NEETs are multiple: some belong to the individual (belonging to a socio-family environment, disadvantaged cultured) others belong to the socio-economic system, the educational, occupational and social policies of the country;
• The Romanian authorities responsible for young people act in different fields through measures to support this category of population but do not act in an integrated way, through cooperation so that the effect of the measures is diluted and the share of young people in difficulty does not decrease;
• The rural environment in Romania has always been disadvantaged and is in the same situation today; Loss of human capital through internal or external emigration is not likely to support rural communities or Romanian society as a whole.

In the framework of the 4^th Brokerage event, conducted on the second day at the National Library of Romania, the stakeholders and NEETs of project partners had the opportunity to collaborate in person, to share experience in job finding, managing a business in rural areas, positive and negative effects of covid, finding opportunities for business during pandemic times, etc.  Leaded by the young, but very experience trainer and job mentor, Cosmin Vieriu, participants were involved in many non-formal education activities, games, etc.

As part of the Agenda, participants also attend the tailored study visits at various places in Bucharest and in rural areas around:

1. Aha Youth Center – the youth center is a co-working space of some youth organizations from the capital of Romania, including CPDIS. During the study visit, participants were involved in non-formal education activities by representative of the A4action (https://a4action.ro/en/) – a youth NGO from a rural area which support youth from the local community. A4action was born out of the need to give for young people the desire to grow nicely and to develop beautiful things, to learn the best of what others did and to teach others what they know better. A4action vision is that of a better Romania in which young people are valued. That is why, through everything they do, they promote non-formal learning and volunteering as a way of personal development for young people. They adapt the needs of young people. Besides they own projects, they are also involved in the “Together for Ilfov” initiative, whose purpose is to develop Ilfov County through non-formal education programs developed in partnership with the active NGOs in the county. They are also part of the “Youth Affairs Council” conducted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the VOLUME Federation.

2. Social incubator – the Association “Social Incubator” (https://asociatiasocialincubator.org) aims to support young people who have left – or are about to leave – the child protection system, (including NEET) aged between 16 and 26, to make the transition (in other very difficult and risky conditions) to adult life in a way that enhances their skills and ensures their independence.

3. Casa Seciu (https://casaseciu.ro), located near Boldesti-Scaeni (Prahova County) – it is a family business – restaurant and winery in a rural area near Bucharest.