TITLE: SAYN – Sport for Activation of Young NEET
TYPE: ERASMUS-YOUTH-2022-CB
DATES: 01/01/23 – 31/12/25
IMPORTANT LINKS: Website – Facebook – Instagram
PARTNERS:
1. L’ORMA SSD ARL, Italy – Coordinator
2. NGO NEST BERLIN EV, Germany – Partner
3. UDRUGA VERE MONTIS, Croatia – Partner
4. PERMANENT PEACE MOVEMENT, Lebanon – Partner
5. TUNISIAN SCOUT, Tunisia – Partner
6. AL-EMAD ALKABEER FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT CO., Jordan – Partner
DESCRIPTION
“Sport for Activation of Young NEET (SAYN)” is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building project that aims to tackle youth unemployment and social exclusion by empowering young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). By combining sport and non-formal education, the project helps young NEETs develop the soft skills and confidence necessary to enter the job market and achieve their professional goals, while also enhancing the capacity of youth workers to support them effectively.
The project addresses the widespread and persistent issue of youth unemployment, which carries risks such as social exclusion, psychological distress, and vulnerability to delinquency. SAYN develops a methodology that leverages the educational potential of sport to build skills like teamwork, decision-making, leadership, resilience, and active participation — skills highly valued by employers but often missing from formal education.
To achieve these goals, SAYN engages both young NEETs and youth workers in a series of interconnected international and local activities. The project includes three main international events: a training course for youth workers to enhance their ability to support NEETs through sport and non-formal education, a youth exchange where young NEETs develop their skills in an intercultural environment, and a job-shadowing experience where youth workers deepen their expertise by learning from partner organizations in different socio-cultural contexts. Locally, each partner organizes workshops that adapt the methodology to their specific community needs, engaging NEETs directly and testing the tools developed.
The project produces two main deliverables: an educational manual detailing the sport-based methodology and best practices for youth workers, and a documentary video showcasing the activities and their impact on participants. These resources are designed to be transferable and usable by youth organizations across Europe and beyond.
SAYN involves six organizations from Italy, Germany, Croatia, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Jordan, fostering a rich exchange of practices and perspectives between European and non-European contexts. Through this collaboration, the project contributes to the EU Youth Strategy by promoting quality employment, gender equality, inclusion of rural youth, and intercultural understanding.
By equipping both youth workers and NEETs with new tools, experiences, and networks, SAYN demonstrates how sport can become a powerful medium for personal growth, professional development, and social inclusion — helping young people reconnect with society and shape their own futures.
