Professional development of youth workers, supporting and empowering young people
Building on the existing co-operation between the European Commission and the Council of Europe, in 2026-2028, the Youth Partnership will play an enhanced role in contributing to the professional development of youth workers, supporting and empowering young people, and addressing new challenges and emerging topics.
Objectives
The Youth Partnership will organise a series of “evidence-based seminars” aimed at strengthening the capacity of youth workers by linking their daily practice with the latest research findings, policy developments, and shared priorities of the European Commission and the Council of Europe.
These seminars aim to:
- Translate research and knowledge into everyday action for youth workers and the youth work community of practice.
- Foster reflexivity and critical reflection on current youth work practices in an international context.
- Provide inspiration and learning from existing practices and initiatives.
- Encourage peer learning, networking and exchange among members of the youth work community of practice.
Complementary to these seminars, the Youth Partnership will also develop and produce high-quality, needs-based resources for competence development to support a wide range of stakeholders within the youth work community of practice in their daily roles, especially youth workers.
Coyote, the online magazine for youth workers, will also be strengthened and renewed as part of these efforts.
Expected outcomes
Youth work in rural areas
- A seminar, building on the research conducted by the Youth Partnership in 2024–2025. The event will draw on the analysis presented in this study of youth work services to improve opportunities and conditions for young people living in rural areas.
Supporting young people’s mental health and well-being / resilience
- A seminar building on the findings of the Youth Partnership’s study Advancing youth mental health and well-being. A mapping of policy frameworks, tools and services across Europe.
- A tool to help youth workers better understand their role and support young people’s mental health and well-being.
Strengthening young people’s critical thinking in the digital era
- A seminar exploring the role of youth work in empowering young people to think critically, understand, challenge, and engage meaningfully in the digital era. The activity will draw on existing research, as well as on recent studies conducted by the Youth Partnership, including Youth Work and TECHLASH: What Are the New Challenges of Digitalisation for Young People? (2022) and Insights into Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Youth Sector (2024). .
- A tool to support youth workers in improving young people’s digital awareness and strengthening their critical thinking skills.
Youth work, peace education and preparedness
- A seminar reflecting on and providing support to youth workers in relation to two key policy developments: the forthcoming Council of Europe Recommendation on the role of young people in peacebuilding, and the EU Preparedness Strategy, which aims to promote preparedness in youth programmes.
- A tool to support youth workers in working with young people on peace education and preparedness.
Coyote youth work magazine
The magazine will be published annually and it will feature stories, inspiring practices, and initiatives relevant to the youth work community of practice.
Indicative timeline
2026
Seminar on strengthening young people’s critical thinking in the digital era
Seminar on youth work, peace education, and preparedness
Coyote youth work magazine issue 39 on young people’s access to social rights
2027
Seminar on youth work in rural areas.
Practical tool to support youth workers in strengthening young people’s critical thinking in the digital era
Practical tool for youth workers on youth work, peace education, and preparedness.
Coyote youth work magazine issue 40
2028
Seminar on supporting young people’s mental health and well-being, including practical tool for youth workers
Coyote youth work magazine issue 41