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Attracting NEET Youth to Find Jobs
- Kyrgyzstan
- February 1, 2026
Situation
In Kyrgyzstan, 320,000 young people—20% of the youth population—are classified as NEET, with those in remote southern districts most at risk. Mountainous terrain, limited connectivity, and scarce training or job opportunities leave many youth isolated and disengaged from economic prospects.
Assignment
Because local opportunities feel inaccessible, many young people migrate to Russia for undocumented manual labour. The challenge was to support youth in navigating the transition between education, training, and employment, and to connect them with viable opportunities within Kyrgyzstan.
Approach
Using a human-centred design methodology, a field team engaged 32 youth across three districts and nine villages to uncover needs, barriers, and aspirations through semi-structured interviews and design probes. Additional structured interviews with institutions and employers clarified system gaps affecting youth employment. Insights guided the co-creation of a solution that aligned with youth behaviours and digital habits.
Result
The project resulted in JoopBar, a Telegram-based digital ecosystem offering community-led career guidance, immersive learning, market information, and accessible job linkages—supporting smoother youth transitions into local employment pathways.