Growing Youth Work in Eastern Europe and Caucasus

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.

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.

Methodology

The seminar is based on the principles of non-formal learning, peer learning and active participation. Participants are expected to contribute actively by sharing their experiences, challenges and good practices.

Participants will engage in:

• interactive workshops;
• peer exchange sessions;
• policy and practice dialogues;
• case study discussions;
• networking activities;
• thematic working groups;
• reflection sessions;

The seminar will provide space for both structured learning and informal networking, encouraging participants to establish long-term professional partnerships and strengthen cooperation across Europe.

Target group

The seminar is open to participants from Erasmus+ Programme Countries,  Neighbourhood East and Western Balkans.

We invite applications from:

• youth workers;
• youth work managers and coordinators;
• representatives of youth organisations;
• representatives of local, regional and national public authorities responsible for youth policy;
• researchers and experts working on youth work development;
• representatives of national youth work platforms and networks.

Participants should:

• have experience in youth work practice or youth policy development;
• be interested in strengthening youth work systems and quality development;
• be willing to actively contribute to discussions and exchange experiences;
• be committed to sharing the learning outcomes within their organisations or institutions after the seminar.

The hosting National Agency or SALTO will organise the accommodation and cover the costs for accommodation and food.

Eastern Partnership countries, Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries, Western Balkan countries

English

Participants from Eastern Partnership countries will not pay a participation fee. Participants from the Programme Countries are requested to contact their National Agency in order to clarify this issue. It will depend on each NA's policy.

Please contact your National Agency (NA) or SALTO Resource Centre (SALTO) in order to know whether they would support your travel costs. If yes, after being selected, get in touch with your NA or SALTO again to learn more about the overall procedure to arrange the booking of your travel tickets and the reimbursement of your travel expenses.