Youth work is value based and its core principles are that it needs…

to be created, organised, planned, prepared, carried out and evaluated together with or by young people.

This principle describes participation and tells us that it is a process in six different steps (and not just an abstract feeling). Based on dialogue and a reflective practice, it is through this process that young people, further, develop their knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.

If the young people participating do not have the necessary knowledge or skills to be active in all steps, e.g. preparing a backline for a concert, the primary mission of youth work is to help them acquire these skills, not to “take over” and do things for young people, even if this sometimes might be necessary.

Do you agree on what this means in practice?
Do you agree on to what degree youth work meets this bullet point?
Here you find the questions you need to discuss to find out!

If you think that this is something you need to work on, click the “Add to development agenda” button below. You will then find your agenda on your personal page and be able to start a development process.

Please note!
If you start a development process related to this bullet point you will find the below questions also under the page “Discuss and assess”. There you will also be able to take notes.

Questions to discuss

Is local youth work stimulating and supporting young people to initiate and engage in participatory processes?
Are local youth workers expecting young people to contribute with ideas and efforts when the activities they ask for should be realized?
Is local youth work sometimes doing things for young people even if young people would learn more if they did them by themselves?
What are the risks of not distinguishing between “participation” and “taking part”?

References & tips

“Youth work achieves this by empowering and engaging young people in the active creation, preparation, delivery and evaluation of initiatives and activities that reflect their needs, interests, ideas and experiences.” Council of Europe, Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on youth work, 2017
The participation of young people in the design and delivery of youth work is essential in order to guarantee that organisations, programmes and activities are responsive and relevant to their needs and aspirations of young people. Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the Framework for establishing a European Youth Work Agenda (2020/C 415/01)