How can youth work in Europe be further developed on a local, national and European level? What are its challenges, and what are the basic parameters needed from politics? These are the questions of the 2nd European Youth Work Convention in Brussels. For the International Association for Education and Exchange, ewoca³ project officer Katharina Teiting was part of the German delegation at the big international meeting.
The conference took place from the 27th to 30th of April in the framework of the Belgian chairmanship of the Council of Europe. More than 400 youth work professionals, scholars and government representatives collaborated in workshops and discussions, to develop a starting point for a new political agenda for youth work. The results of the plenary sessions, 24 working groups and 20 local events became part of the joint declaration, which was published under the title of “Making a World of Difference“.
’These were four unbelievably intensive and exciting days’, said Katharina Teiting. ’An international exchange positioned so broadly is important, as we in Germany as well can learn a lot from the different approaches in the different countries.’ She took part in the working groups and gave a presentation on the situation of international youth work in Germany using ewoca³ and ewoca³(+) as examples.
’For seven years now, we do international youth work with the ewoca³ programme and thereby contribute to the networking of European organisations’, said Elke Wegener, the general manager of the International Association for Education and Exchange. ’We are happy to be able to now share the experiences we made in this time in such a large European forum.’
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and has its official seat in Straßburg. It works as a forum for questions of human rights and supports democratic development in its 47 member countries. In their joint resolution, the conference participants demand further development and a strengthening of youth work in Europe. In this context, they argue for sustainable financial support, for opportunities for further education and qualification, and scientific monitoring of youth work programmes. The resolution continues: ’ Youth work is not a luxury but an existential necessity if a precarious Europe is to effectively address its concerns about social inclusion, cohesion and equal opportunities, and commitment to values of democracy and human rights. Youth work is a central component of a social Europe.’ The text of the resolution (pdf).