Showcasing results in Brussels

On 18 November, the Back on Track project hosted its Policy-Focused Communication Event in Brussels. Bringing together over 50 participants, including partners, youth workers, policymakers, and young people from across the Danube Region and beyond, the event highlighted how the project is translating European policy objectives into concrete local action for rural NEETs.

From Policy to Practice

The main event combined project updates with practical insights from the field.

Julia Probst (ÖJAB, Austria) presented the project’s objectives and timeline, emphasising progress in outreach, community engagement, skills development, and the expansion of a transnational practitioner network. She underlined Back on Track’s strong focus on digital inclusion as a key condition for youth empowerment in remote areas.

Ákos Horváth (HICS, Hungary) offered a closer look at the mentoring programme, highlighting the importance of personalised support and the diverse needs of NEET youth. He stressed the value of local mentors who can accompany young people throughout their journey into education, training, and employment.

Two young participants shared their personal experiences, illustrating how the project has boosted their confidence, motivation, and digital readiness—showing the impact of involving youth not just as beneficiaries, but as contributors.

Sharing Practices Across the Danube Region

The second part of the event featured five thematic roundtables on outreach, mentoring, NEET needs, remote work opportunities, and upskilling. Partners exchanged experiences from their national contexts, with several common messages emerging:

• Outreach strategies must be adapted to local realities, combining in-person fieldwork with digital tools.

• Inclusion efforts require multi-sector cooperation: youth organisations, social services, schools, and employers all play a role.

• Community-based partnerships remain essential for trust-building in rural areas.

• Supporting digital skills is critical for enabling access to emerging labour market opportunities.

The Brussels Communication Event marked an important milestone for Back on Track, reinforcing the relevance of its early results and strengthening the dialogue between regional practitioners and EU-level stakeholders. The discussions in Brussels confirmed that local innovation, when connected to European strategies, can make a meaningful difference in empowering rural NEET youth across the Danube Region.