The project “The Future of Youth Work”ers ”, is being developed by APP Juventude and a wide group of National Associations of Youth professionals since the 3rd European Youth Work Convention, organized by the German presidency of the European Council and the German Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The discussion on the heterogeneity of training models and the recognition of skills of youth professionals in the European and pan-European space was recognized as an urgent area of work in the recognition of the so-called “Youth Work”, of its quality, innovation and impact.
APP Juventude assumed this responsibility both within the framework of European cooperation with other national associations of youth professionals, but also within the Portuguese framework in its relationship with the national youth authority, the IPDJ and likewise, within the framework of the national working group of the Bonna process. “The Future of Youth”ers ”, started to be designed in January 2021, formed an informal consortium in March 2021 and promoted 3 national meetings with the APP Juventude working group and 6 digital meetings with the Consortium partners, in addition to meetings with partners responsible for the development of results envisaged in the implementation of the project.
The “The Future of Youth Work”ers" Project, has 3 main objectives:
- The first is linked to the need to map the existing models in Europe, of training and qualification of Youth Professionals and to realize the existence of National Associations of Youth Professionals, in which they promote quality programs of training and qualification of Youth Professionals.
- A second objective in order to analyze if the training and qualification programs of youth professionals are oriented and adjusted with the fundamental documents of the European Union related to the Youth area and with the new transversal priorities of the European Union and, of course, with the strategy European Youth 2019/27.
- A third objective related to the design of a European training proposal for Youth Professionals, designed, recognised and transversal to the work of all national associations of Youth Professionals.
These three objectives are intended to give a complete answer to the Bonn process, which continues the III Youth Work Convention and in which the commitment to create the European Network of National Associations of Youth Professionals was born.
The Architecture of “The Future of Youth Work”, presents 3 Transnational Meetings, 14 Virtual Meetings, 3 Dissemination Activities and 1 Training Action.
The result of this project will be the contribution of Portugal and APP Juventude in particular to the heritage of this future European Network, but also a contribution to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the new European Youth strategy 2019/2027.
Partner organisations:
1. APPJUVENTUDE – Associação Portuguesa de Profissionais de Juventude, Portugal, Viseu, www.appjuventude.pt
2. EESTI NOORSOOTOOTAJATE KOGU, Estonia, TALLINN, www.enk.ee
3. BEROEPSVERENIGING KINDER- EN JONGERENWERKERS, Netherlands, MAASTRICHT www.bvjong.nl
4. NINFEA National Informal and Non-Formal Education Association, Italy, Arona, www.ninfeaassociazione.it
5. Panellinio Somateio Symvoulon Neon, Greece, Athens, www.youthwork.gr
6. SOJUZ ZA MLADINSKA RABOTA SKOPJE, The Republic of North Macedonia, SKOPJE, www.smr.org.mk
7. NAPOR - Nacionalna Asocijacija Praktičara/ki omladinskog rada, Serbia, www.napor.net
So far have been realized 2 Transnational Meetings, 7 Virtual Meetings, and 1 Dissemination Activity conducted in Novi Sad, Serbia. Result 1 - a Map of the best practices in youth workers' training programs in the countries of Consortium members and among National Associations of Youth Workers has been delivered. Currently, partner organizations are working on Result 2 - Establishing a Perfect Link between the Youth Workers Training program with Erasmus+ 21/27 (Green and digital), Boon Process implemented by the National Associations of Youth Workers from EU and CoE Countries. The implementation of the Training, Result 3 - Co-creating and Co-Designing Training programs for Youth Workers by National Associations of Youth Workers is expected in September.