Recognizing the urgent need to address these challenges, Love Frankie was commissioned by UNICEF Malaysia to investigate the factors affecting youth 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training' (NEET), with a focus on marginalized sub-groups such as indigenous communities, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and refugee youth.
To uncover the complexities of youth NEET status, we employed a robust methodology that included five key activities:
1. Literature Review: Laying the groundwork with existing knowledge.
2. Quantitative Survey: Engaging 1,425 participants to gather broad insights.
3. Focus Group Discussions: Conducting 20 FGDs with 138 youth to delve into personal experiences.
4. Key Informant Interviews: Gaining expert perspectives through 11 interviews.
5. Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis: Understanding the broader context and connections.
Applying a socio-ecological framework and incorporating lenses of gender equality, social inclusion, intersectionality, and disability inclusion, we provided nuanced insights. Our focus groups highlighted the lived experiences of Rohingya refugees and undocumented Filipino migrants, revealing the unique challenges they face.
Our findings offered a multi-layered understanding of the issues at hand and informed comprehensive recommendations at multiple levels—policy, programmatic, and community. These recommendations are designed to enhance the employability of youth NEETs, ensuring they gain the skills needed for quality, productive jobs in the 21st century.
