CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Join the Regional Consultations on the Youth Work Quality Framework Across the Western Balkan Region
We are excited to invite you to the Regional Consultations on the Youth Work Quality Framework Across the Western Balkan Region. This event aims to present the draft framework and gather valuable feedback from the youth work community to refine and finalize this important document. Register HERE.
ABOUT PROJECT
Period of implementation: 2024 - 2026.
Supported by: European Union
Partners: Forum mladi i neformalna edukacija - Forum MNE (Montenegro), National association of youth workers - NAPOR (Serbia), Sojuz za mladinska rabota (North Macedonia), Qendrat youth for social changes (Albania), Organizata Joqeveritare THY (Kosovo*), Human rights education youth network (Belgium) and PRONI center for youth development (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Although youth work plays a significant role in equipping young people with skills necessary for the labor market, educational spheres, as well as for their personal development and well-being, it is still insufficiently recognized and supported by governments in the Western Balkans. Youth work is a field of practice that encompasses various methods addressing different social challenges, targeting diverse groups of young people, and contributing to various policies. Therefore, the proposed action aims to foster and strengthen youth work across the Western Balkans region and bring it closer to the European Union.
The overall goal of the proposed initiative is to support the development and recognition of quality youth work in the Western Balkans region through inter-country collaboration, networking, and the shaping of innovative practices. The action will facilitate the implementation of the European Youth Strategy and the Bonn Process in the Western Balkans, specifically in promoting and ensuring the quality of youth work. It will encourage cooperation at the regional and European levels, empower organizations engaged in non-formal education, enable professional development for youth workers in the Western Balkans, and promote the exchange of experiences and best practices with their peers in the European Union.
The project aims to highlight the multifaceted impact of youth work and create favorable conditions for the development and standardization of quality youth work in the Western Balkans region. Additionally, the project seeks to enhance cooperation and encourage the growth of a community dedicated to youth work in the region. Supporting the recognition of youth work across the region through effective public communication about its impact, as well as fostering cross-sectoral and regional collaboration to improve the position of young people in the Western Balkans—particularly those with fewer opportunities—are also among the project's primary objectives.
PERSPEКTIVE ZA MLADE U RURALNIM SREDINAMA U SRBIJI
Period trajanja projekta: 11/2021 – 10/2024
Izazov
Mladi u ruralnim sredinama u Srbiji teško mogu da ostvare svoj pun potencijal u okviru zajednice. Imaju ograničene mogućnosti da aktivno učestvuju u oblikovanju svog ekonomskog, političkog, socijalnog i kulturnog okruženja. Zbog ovakvih izazova mladi često odlaze u gradove ili inostranstvo. Takođe, različiti faktori utiču na proces ekonomske i socijalne reintegracije onih koji se vrate svojim domovima. Ovo je naročito izraženo kada je reč o osetljivim grupama.
Pristup
Cilj projekta je da zajedno sa mladima u ruralnim sredinama unapredi njihove ekonomske, socijalne i kulturne perspektive. Projekat je namenjen mladima od 18 do 30 godina starosti i do 40 godina u slučaju osetljivih grupa kao što su povratnici, mlade žene i etničke manjine.
Naš pristup podrazumeva:
- podsticanje i osnaživanje mladih ljudi kroz konsultacije da preuzmu odgovornost za okruženje u kojem žive.
- finansiranje inicijativa koje imaju za cilj poboljšanje kvaliteta života u zajednicama.
- podršku pristupima za poboljšanje ekonomskih perspektiva.
- izgradnju kapaciteta za primenu instrumenata u lokalnim zajednicama pomoću kojih se lakše identifikuju potrebe mladih i obezbeđivanje njihovog aktivnog učešća u procesima donošenja odluka u lokalnim politikama.
Rezultati
- 128 mladih ljudi iz 8 pilot regiona učestvovalo je na 5 letnjih kampova i steklo veštine za aktivno učešće i liderstvo.
- Na kampovima su razvili 22 ideje za poboljšanje kvaliteta života u svojoj zajednici koje će biti finansirane kroz lokalne fondove za mlade koji se sprovode u saradnji sa 7 organizacija civilnog društva.
- U saradnji sa Nacionalnom asocijacijom praktičara i praktičarki omladinskog rada (NAPOR) biće obučeno 24 omladinska radnika/ce i do 48 omladinskih lidera/ki.
- U vodećoj ulozi omladinskih lidera/ki, omladinskih radnika/ca i u saradnji sa ključnim lokalnim akterima, mladi će aktivno učestvovati u projektovanju, donošenju odluka i sprovođenju lokalnih politika i njihovom povezivanju sa nacionalnim prioritetima. 13 lokalnih samouprava u 10 pilot regiona iskazalo je interesovanje za dalju saradnju.
- U narednoj fazi, mladi u odabranim pilot regionima će dobiti priliku da steknu neophodna znanja i veštine, da dobiju podršku za pristup finansijama i novim tržištima, kao i da se umreže sa ciljem da diversifikuju svoje mogućnosti za ostvarivanje prihoda, pre svega u oblasti (organske) poljoprivrede i seoskog turizma.
Projekat “Perspektive za mlade u ruralnim sredinama u Srbiji” u okviru Nemačke razvojne saradnje sprovodi GIZ u partnerstvu sa Ministarstvom omladine i sporta Republike Srbije.
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.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
- Youth work is still invisible and often marginalized.
- The Blockchained Youth Work will bring immense refreshment to the youth work with its innovative digital solutions that are applicable beyond youth sector and youth work.
- This project will provide: common language and value base, legitimize the work done by the youth sector, improve understanding of innovation and quality, enhance quality in educational practices, and support the experience that youth workers bring to the society.
- The project will strongly contribute to increasing quality, innovation by improving digital readiness, resilience and capacity and the visibility of youth work.
With the Blockchained Youth Work we wish to tackle the insufficient recognition and validation of youth work, and address them with digital innovation
PARTNERS OF THE PROJECT
The University of Ljubljana (UL): is the oldest, largest and international university in Slovenia ranked among the top 500 universities according to the ARWU Shanghai scale.
Out of the Box International (OTB): is a European Network present in 25 European countries bringing together different organizations advocating for more innovative, citizen-centered and solidarity policies on the European and city level.
Österreichische Kinder und Jugendertretung verein (aufZAQ): brings expertise, knowledge and skills in mapping educational practices, creating quality standards for education, training, etc., and through the project will also present the state of work with young people in Austria.
National association of youth workers (NAPOR): embraces 44 organizations of youth and for youth which implement youth work throughout Serbia.
The National Youth Council of Slovenia (MSS): is an umbrella organization linking all national youth organizations irrespective of their various interests, ideological or political orientations. In Slovenia the MSS has been leading the process of strengthening the youth sector nation-wide and has been strongly involved in all stages of youth policy creation since its establishment in 1990.
WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN?
Literature: Blockchain in Education - Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre; Grech & Camilleri (2017.), European Commission
More about Blockchain How Blockchain Could Impact Education in 2020 and Beyond
MAIN PROJECT RESULTS:
- Analyze key issues in partner countries related to youth work recognition and validation;
- Develop quality framework based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of educational practices;
- Build 1 blockchain platform;
- Include at least 25 organizations in the pilot training certification process, and at least 50 certified trainings on the blockchain platform;
- Implement a quality advocacy plan on quality of youth work and sustainable innovative solutions;
IMPLEMENTATION
1) Kick off meeting was held from 9th of 11th January 2023. in Novi Sad. Representatives from each partner organization attended the meeting. Meeting was dedicated to fine tune time frame of the project and each of the planned activities and to get common understanding of responsibilities of each organization concerning technical and financial matters and reporting.
2) Analyze key issues in partner countries related to youth work recognition and validation.
3) Development of quality framework based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of educational practices.
4) Second partners meeting was held from 13th of 15th January 2023. in Vienna.