Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici together with Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi visited Melita Training and Resource Management where they could directly see the benefits of the NEET Activation Scheme II.
This scheme provides youths aged 15-24 who are not in education, employment or training with the opportunity to benefit from tailored training and psychosocial support, as well as a work experience that will help them transition into the world of work.
Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici explained how: “The NEET Activation Scheme is a corrective measure that provides support, training, and a further education or work experience opportunity to youths who are already part of the NEETs category. Since the inception of this scheme in Malta in 2014, we have strived to reach out to young people who are not in education, employment or training by providing them with opportunities to help them develop their potential and improve their career prospects.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sport and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima emphasised on the importance of providing our youths with opportunities. He stated that through these opportunities they can find their own role in Maltese society.
“Through these initiatives, over the past few years, more than 850 youths attained skills that helped them progress in their work life. This country believes in holistic development, hence these sorts of programmes focus on students’ vocations and inclinations, thus attaining results that help them in their development”, stated Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that schemes like the NEET Activation Scheme, financed through the European Social Fund, reduce social exclusion in our society whilst they strengthen our greatest resource in our country, which is the human resource. He explained that this scheme, financed with circa €4 million in European Funds, forms part of a larger project – Youth Guarantee 2.0. He concluded by saying that these initiatives provide further opportunities to those who are unemployed or without any qualifications so that they can follow their ambitions.
Each participant receives:
– Profiling sessions
– 80-hour training programme
– 240 hours of work placement or an opportunity for vocational training.
– Free daily lunch
– Allowance of €1440 (80% obligatory attendance)
– Ongoing support including youth workers, employment advisors, job coaches
A total of 869 youths have been assisted through the NEET Activation Scheme since 2014.
