Projekt HeCoN

Project Information HeCoN

Context:

With the HeCoN project, we intended to increase the health awareness and health skills of NEETs in Europe. To achieve this goal, we held transnational partner meetings between three European countries working with the NEETs group in different contexts. The term "NEET" describes young people who are neither in employment nor in education or training. All partners already had pedagogical knowledge about coaching NEETs in individual settings or group activities. With the HeCoN project, we discussed strategic issues, gained common values and developed tools for professionals to work with and support NEETs on their health skills.

Objective of the project:

The project aimed to develop two innovative intellectual outcomes for professionals (e.g. trainers, social workers, adult educators...) working with NEETs in different contexts. It served to intensively engage the direct target group in training sessions on factors influencing the maintenance of their health and thus to raise health awareness in order to develop the health literacy of NEETs in the long run.

The intellectual outputs (IOs) contain a collection of theoretical input and application-related methods for the acquisition of health skills. The IOs are divided into three different focal points, which were developed by the individual partner organisations and then jointly discussed and supplemented, always drawing on the experience and current knowledge of the partners. The following thematic complexes were considered in more detail:

1) Nutrition

2) Physical activities

3) Mindfulness.

All developed inputs and methods of the toolbox were tested on the indirect target group in workshops by each partner and then adapted.

Activities:

- Exchange of the different situations of NEETs in each partner country.

- Exchange of different approaches to health

- Elaboration of inputs and methods for trainings for NEETs

- Testing of trainings with NEETs

- Implementation of a toolbox for professionals to train NEETs

- Creation of a digital toolbox as a virtual platform.

Methodology:

All partners have defined the intellectual outputs as a guideline for raising NEETs' awareness of their own health situation and for educating and supporting NEETs. On the one hand, the focus is on education on the topic of physical health, with nutrition and exercise being particularly important. On the other hand, we also deal with the psychosocial context of health, which is primarily aimed at improving the human health of NEETs. It should be noted that these outputs are not a cure for diseases and in these cases, a specialist should also be consulted. It is more about essential support and small exercises that are as low-threshold as possible and yet can achieve great effects in the long term.

For easier use, the categories and exercises are colour-coded with different icons.

Results and impact:

We have addressed an innovative issue to increase the health competences of NEETs. The methods described in the intellectual outputs support the direct and indirect target group to stay healthy, even if structural conditions (such as a lack of job vacancies, lower qualifications, ...) of being NEET are not easy to change. In this way, empowerment can be gained.

All organisations are working on different projects in adult education and on different European projects. Each of us is confronted with similar issues in our daily work. In order to improve our common knowledge and action, we have worked on this topic across countries. NEETs exist in every European country. Nevertheless, social and occupational exclusion in general is often similar. By comparing the situation of NEETs in the countries concerned, we found out that especially the economic situation or lack of motivation are among the many reasons for NEETs' unemployment.

We have found that NEETs are extremely heterogeneous and diverse. The largest group of NEETs are only unemployed for a short time, which is often the case during the transition from school to training or university. A few are already waiting for a job or training place and will therefore soon leave the NEETs status. This is followed shortly by the long-term unemployed NEETs, who are particularly at risk of social disengagement and exclusion. There are also many young people who are unable to go to school, training or work due to family responsibilities. They often have to take care of children or family members in need of care. Women are most often among them. An illness or a physical or mental impairment can also be a risk. The smallest group of NEETs consists of young people who feel discouraged, have stopped looking for work and believe there are no job opportunities for them. This group in particular is at high risk of social exclusion and abstention from working life. The complexity of our target group therefore required very different approaches and a variety of support services, specifically in the health sector. This ensures that the entire group of NEETs is addressed.

The changing demands of work and the increasing volatility and complexity of everyday life often lead to mental and physical health problems within the target group. Often, NEETs lack the resources to do something preventively for their health or to stay healthy in difficult life situations. Those who are not healthy or do not feel well will also not find a solid connection in their working or social life. Therefore, we have found that above all, promoting health awareness, health literacy and health condition is the key to more social and professional participation.

The IOs we provide contain basic information and specific exercises for reflection and reorientation on the topic of health. We have defined three sub-categories: Nutrition, Physical Activity and Mindfulness. Under each of the three categories, you will find explanations, exercises and suggestions for further research.