Key Highlights from the Y-NEET Regional Experience-Sharing Workshop in Rabat, Co-organized by the ILO, MedNC, and IECD

A regional workshop focused on sharing experiences around the professional integration of early school leavers was held in Rabat on April 24–25, 2025. The event took place within the framework of a regional programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in support of young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs).

The workshop was organized by the ILO in partnership with the Mediterranean New Chance Network (MedNC) and the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD), with technical support from the European Training Foundation (ETF).

Participants came from Morocco, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, and Montenegro to exchange experiences, identify best practices, and propose concrete strategies to better support young people facing disconnection from education and the labour market. The audience included representatives from ministries, civil society organizations, social partners, the private sector, training and employment experts — and, crucially, young people themselves, who were fully involved in the discussions.

Exploring the Different Second Chance Models

 

Sabine Bécard, Coordinator of the MedNC Network, facilitated the opening roundtable alongside Second Chance education experts. Together, they explored the similarities and specificities of the Second Chance School models in Tunisia, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. 

This workshop marks an important milestone in advancing regional cooperation on NEET youth integration. It strengthens the momentum created by MedNC and its technical and financial partners in fostering better, more inclusive solutions for NEET youth across the Mediterranean.

 

 

On-site Visits for Practical Exchanges 

As part of the event, participants visited the Horizons Ouverts centre in Sidi Abdellah — a member of both RAE2C Morocco and the MedNC network. Welcomed by Salima Haloui, President of RAE2C, they had the opportunity to learn about the centre’s work, interact with the educational team, and most importantly, hear the personal stories of young people supported through training and job integration pathways

Young Voices at the Heart of the Dialogue

Ayoub Meskaoui, a former participant in the Greenship programme led by the Association Al Jisr, delivered a moving and inspiring testimony that resonated with all attendees.

Now an active member of MedNYouth — MedNC's youth council , launched in October 2024 — Ayoub presented the council’s mission and first initiatives. Its goal: to elevate the voices of NEET youth and build sustainable bridges between young people, institutions, and stakeholders in the integration ecosystem.

 

 

Ayoub’s story is a powerful reminder that integration is, above all, a human journey. It’s about life paths, untapped potential, and voices that deserve to be heard and amplified. The discussions in Rabat reinforced a shared belief: only a coordinated, inclusive, and structured approach can create the conditions for lasting and meaningful integration for young people.