The number of young people outside the institutional radar is by definition difficult to assess. According to a 2020 Dares study, a third of Neet (English acronym for "neither in studies, nor in employment, nor in training") would not be in contact with the public employment service or another employment organization. insertion.
"In Ile-de-France, each year, there are nearly 10.000 unreachable school dropouts. However, there are around fifty integration schemes, but there are young people who are nowhere", explains to AFP Matthieu Piton, head of the city mission at the regional prefecture.
To identify and support them, the prefecture is funding 200 “course referent” positions in 200 urban policy districts, “kingpins” of its regional youth integration plan (PRIJ).
Specialized educators, social mediators, local mission advisers... their profiles are varied but they go "outside the walls, going to places where young people are, in the evening, on weekends..."
Based on the lists of dropouts - transmitted by groups bringing together National Education, city, local mission, etc. - and their local network, these referents identified, remobilized and supported 12.300 young people, 5.000 of whom found a positive exit in training or employment.
"Their main asset is the ability to get in touch with young people," summarizes Mr. Piton.
Referent to Vigneux-sur-Seine (Essonne), Muriel Buffet works for a neighborhood association which deals more with families, but "the mothers allow her to come into contact with these young people".
"I walk a lot in the neighborhood, I have my network and then word of mouth works", testifies Ms. Buffet who permanently accompanies around twenty dropouts towards integration, in particular through apprenticeship.
"You must first show your credentials, say that you are neither from National Education, nor from the police, nor from justice, these young people are testing you enormously", she underlines.
'the link', key value
These "sourcers" must above all "master the codes of the districts", confirms Imane Kajiou, trainer for an inclusion program called "The Conquest of Possibilities", launched by the IGS training group in early 2021.
This program aims to bring 850 young Ile-de-France residents back into employment over three years, mainly through professionalization contracts with partner companies, after an intensive 23-day "remobilization lock" on the group's campus to help them regain confidence and define a professional project.
To find 40 to 60 young people per month, it has recruited six "ambassadors" in Ile-de-France in its network of educators and social workers.
"In the neighborhoods, young people only trust people with whom they have a connection. The good is in the connection", she insists.
"At the beginning of the program, I experienced a communication campaign on social networks, it does not work. I had 250 registered but only one came. Whereas out of 50 young people registered by an ambassador , 46 come”, she testifies.
Sports educator in Grigny (Essonne), Aziz Ndiaye, ambassador, identifies these young people via "local activities" and in particular the football club where he officiates.
"When I know them at 10-15 years old, it creates a bond. They come back to see me when they're a bit lost, they see me as a coach, not just a sports coach," he says.
To prevent these caught up dropouts from... picking up again, "we stay in touch with them all the time, through social networks. If they are absent one day from the program, the ambassadors must go see what is going on", explains Mrs Kajiou.
Then, "the young person communicates with many young people. If he is happy with his experience with us, he himself becomes an ambassador of his success", she underlines.