Period of implementation: 2021 - 2024.
Partners: Estonian Association of Youth Workers (Estonia), National Association of Youth Workers - NAPOR (Serbia), NINFEA - National Informal and Non-Formal Education Association (Italy), Panellinio Somateio Symvoulon Neon (Greece), Beroepsvereni ging kinder- en jongerenwerkers (Netherlands), Maltese Association of Youth Workers (Malta), APPJUVENTUDE – Associação Portuguesa de Profissionais de Juventude (Portugal), Sojuz za mladinska rabota Skopje (North Macedonia), Ceska asociace streetwork (Chezh Republic).
“European youth workers unite to empower youth and youth field – Youth worker is a lifestyle” is a project of 9 partners inspired by the Declaration of 3d European Youth Work Convention. The project supports the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda. During the third European Youth Work Convention, the participating youth workers from the EU and COE member states and other stakeholders strongly recognized the need for an international network of youth workers. Network as the main tool to give youth workers a voice and support peer learning, and quality developments in the youth sector across Europe. Final declaration of the conventions’ call to action – create a European Network of Youth Workers Associations.
The consortium of partners was established on the basis of a common memorandum of 12 organizations signed during 3d EYWC.
Partners realized that there is a need to strengthen youth work and youth workers associations to have a strong voice for youth workers on all levels of governance. As well as the need to have space for peer-learning and discussion to speed up digital transformation in the youth field, ensure that environmental topics are addressed, and quality of youth work is developed. It seemed to be crucial for youth work and youth work policy development to have a strong social partner as a European Network of youth workers to respond to these needs.
To move towards establishing the Association, partners agreed to have a structured project, which enables them to go deeper into the different topics and discussions, as well as involve more stakeholders.
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Training Program
The partners will collaborate on developing a MOOC, which will serve as the first edition of an open course for establishing youth worker associations. This type of training is delivered in a format that allows a large number of participants to benefit. The online course will provide youth workers across Europe with the opportunity to attend and gain foundational knowledge and skills on the subject. Furthermore, after the project concludes, the course will remain open source, designed to serve as one of the support mechanisms for the future European network.
Open call for Massive open online course: Capacity Boost - Strengthening Youth Workers Associations
Free online course, aiming to empower existing national youth work associations by enhancing their capacity in areas such as association and member management, internal communication, research, and the recognition of youth work.
Massive open online course: Connect & Rise! - Forming National Youth Workers Alliances
Free online course, developed on basis of 142 years of collective experience of 9 National Youth Workers Associations from Malta, Serbia, Italy, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Estonia and Netherlands. A unique opportunity to explore and learn from different starting positions and country realities, diverse structures, types and profiles of members, goals and scope of work.
Mapping of the best practices for the recognition of youth work
Country analysis on the political, professional, learning outcomes, and social recognition of the youth worker profession including regulations, benefits, and vacation.
Research report from the Erasmus+ K2 project: ’European youth workers unite to empower youth and youth field – Youth worker is a lifestyle’.
Research Report on the State of Youth Work Associations in Europe
The research aims to address gaps in information about youth worker associations in Europe, including their status, practices, and challenges. It builds on and deepens the work carried out by the EU-CoE Youth Partnership in 2017 and 2019 (youth workers' career paths and education). The study updates information on existing and emerging youth worker associations to map contacts for disseminating findings and fostering future cooperation. Input from Youth Wiki is also utilized for this purpose.
The innovative approach lies in delving into the life of these organizations, describing their main goals, strategies, concerns, and expectations for recognition, support, and international cooperation.
Establishing the European Youth Workers Association
As part of this output, all necessary documents for the establishment and launch of the organization will be produced. For example, statutory documents, membership procedures, and other policies, including ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles and tools, will be developed.
The materials will be made publicly available:
a) to engage new partners and organizations in the network, and
b) to be used for other projects focused on creating (international) organizations.
