"Neither-nor" generation: About young who are not in education, employment, or training

On 12 August 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2010-2011 as the "International Year of Youth." On this occasion, during his opening address, United Nations Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, urged people of every nation to invest in young people and to give them the possibility of taking an active part in decision making. In such an approach he saw an opportunity for the renewal of mankind. Because young people, regardless of their country of origin, struggle with the negative consequences of our current economic crisis, it is an urgent priority to focus on two main problems, which they experience: difficulties with access to education and lack of work. It is the aim of this article to introduce the situation of young people, who are not receiving formal education, employment or training. In order to do this, the notion of generation NEET is explained, the presence of this world-wide phenomenon is portrayed and its causes are presented. peerReviewed publishedVersion