Activity objectives

Aim

To strengthen dialogue and cooperation between youth work practitioners, policy makers and supporting institutions from Erasmus+ Programme Countries, Neighbourhood East and Western Balkans in order to promote mutual learning and support the sustainable development, quality and recognition of youth work across Europe.

Objectives

Participants will:

• explore current trends, opportunities and challenges affecting youth work;

• exchange inspiring practices, policies and approaches supporting the development of quality youth work;
• reflect on the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda and its relevance in different national contexts;
• discuss how youth work contributes to democratic participation, social cohesion, resilience and inclusion;
• strengthen cooperation between practitioners, policy makers, National Agencies, SALTO Resource Centres and other stakeholders;
• identify opportunities for future partnerships and transnational cooperation within Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps;
• contribute to strengthening regional and European youth work networks.

Description

Youth work does not develop in isolation. It grows through cooperation, exchange of experience and shared reflection across different national contexts.

New legislation, professional standards, competence frameworks, local youth centres and innovative forms of youth participation are emerging across the region. Practitioners and policy makers face common challenges: strengthening recognition of youth work, improving quality, creating sustainable support systems, responding to societal change, and ensuring that youth work remains relevant to young people's realities.

At the same time, youth workers in Eastern Europe and Caucasus are responding to challenges such as armed conflicts, democratic resilience, migration, digital transformation, shrinking civic space, mental health, social cohesion and the participation of young people in rapidly changing societies. Their experience of building resilient youth work systems under rapidly changing circumstances offers valuable lessons not only for the region itself but also for youth workers across Europe seeking to strengthen the resilience of young people, communities and youth work structures in the twenty-first century. These developments create a unique opportunity for mutual learning.

Rather than following a traditional capacity-building approach, this seminar is based on the principle that expertise exists in every participating country. It aims to create an equal partnership between participants. Instead of transferring ready-made models, participants will jointly explore how youth work can continue to grow while respecting different political, social and cultural realities.