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.
IMPLEMENTATION
This document examines the evolving framework of youth policy and youth work in the Western Balkan region, a socio-politically complex landscape within the European continent and neighbouring the European Union. The analysis acknowledges the socio-cultural, economic, and political influences that have shaped the region’s youth work sector, as well as the unique challenges faced by young people.
Youth Work Quality Framework Across the Western Balkan Region
This Framework aims to guide youth work providers, practitioners, and decision-makers in improving the quality and accessibility of youth work services. By fostering collaboration and standardizing practices, the Framework seeks to create stronger, more inclusive communities and create preconditions to empower young people as active contributors to societal development.
