In Ukraine, as of April 14, 2021, such terms as “youth work” and “youth worker” are not officially enshrined in any normative document. However, the draft Law of Ukraine “On the Basic Principles of Youth Policy”, which was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading, provides for legislative regulation of these terms.

Youth work in the project document is interpreted as “an activity aimed at involving young people in public life, carried out by young people or together with young people through non-formal and informal education through joint decision-making tools”.

“Youth worker is a person who carries out youth work, has undergone specialized training in the manner prescribed by the central executive body that ensures the formation and implementation of youth policy, and has received a standard certificate.”

Youth work in Ukraine is not yet recognized as a profession. However, the process of entering “Specialist who is working with young people” in the classifier of professions has begun.

Youth work is mentioned in the State Targeted Social Program “Youth of Ukraine” for 2021-2025.

In Ukraine, there is a national program “Youth Worker”, which began in 2014. The program aims to improve the professional level of both government officials of various levels and representatives of NGOs working with young people. The program is based on the principles of non-formal education, is free and accessible to a wide range of stakeholders (training does not require special education, letters of recommendation from management, to be a representative of certain organizations, etc. The main requirement is experience and desire to work with youth). The program issues a state certificate.

At the national level, we can to some extent talk about the social recognition of youth work. However, at the local level this recognition is still low, and in some places it is absent. There is an understanding in society of the need to work with children, but there is no understanding of the importance of youth work. It is as if after childhood young people must at once grow up, become conscious, responsible, self-sufficient, self-charged, independent. Therefore, usually youth work at the local level, if carried out, by enthusiasts without much support from the authorities and understanding in society.

The spheres of education, social work and employment have a strong institutional and resource base through many years of activity. Youth work does not yet have such a basis and history, it is forming now, therefore is underestimated by other related fields.

In the Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU (2014), the parties undertook to deepen cooperation and exchange experiences on non-formal education of young people, which at that time was not properly defined in Ukrainian official documents. The Law of Ukraine “On Education” (2017) contains a definition of non-formal education, but there are no mechanisms and tools for its implementation.

“Non-formal education is education that is usually obtained through educational programs and does not involve the award of state-recognized educational qualifications by level of education, but may end with the award of professional and/or partial educational qualifications.”

In addition, non-formal education in Ukraine does not have a clear methodology, and there are no direct requirements for its agents. However, in recent years there has been a significant development and spread of non-formal education in Ukraine.

Youth and youth workers from Ukraine may obtain Youthpass taking part in projects in Europe. They may indicate this in their CVs, but this usually does not provide much benefit.

The Council of Europe Youth Work Portfolio is being studied within aforementioned program “Youth Worker”. There are no similar national frameworks.

 

(From the survey for the Visible Value)