The seminar was organised as a follow up to the two regional seminars held in 2022 and 2023 and the 2023 Symposium to explore in-depth the context in which youth work is developed, the situation of the practitioners and the way the youth work ecosystem is evolving at national, local and regional levels. The seminar focused on identifying good practices and building on them, as well as disseminating latest research results - notably through the Visible Value handbook, the draft Youth work strategies manual and the new Advocacy kit (under development), the review of the Youth Work Recommendation and the two thematic studies on models of youth work recognition and mapping the European youth work ecosystems. The event ensured visibility of a new comprehensive study Youth work in South-East Europe and the results of the Youth brain drain from the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and Türkiye study.
The seminar also fostered dialogue about the support needed for a strengthened, structured, and recognised youth work in South-East and Eastern Europe, and for reflecting on how the Youth Partnership and European level actors can support initiatives in the two regions in the future.
The seminar aimed to
- Provide place for a continued up-to-date dialogue of the youth work community of practice in Eastern and South-East Europe about youth work development, topics around specific emerging needs and about the state of implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda in the two regions;
- Share information about political processes and latest developments concerning youth work at national and European level, considering the upcoming 4th European Youth Work Convention and the future of strategy and programmes of the two partner institutions;
- Offer guidance and support by informing participants about European resources and assistance, including tools and instruments developed by the Youth Partnership and the partner institutions;
- Collect and share good practices on youth work development in the two regions and beyond, with special focus to thematic priorities and advocacy and communication with decision makers and public authorities.
The event´s outcomes
The seminar highlighted the critical importance of recognizing youth work as a formal profession, encouraging youth involvement in policy-making, and tackling pressing issues such as brain drain, inequality, and mental health. Representatives from the Council of Europe and the European Commission emphasized that youth participation is fundamental to fostering democracy and transparency.
Participants shared insights on country-specific achievements and ongoing challenges, with North Macedonia standing out as a model for progress in formally recognizing youth work. The discussions underscored the need for sustained investment in youth work, particularly in rural areas, and the further development of tools to amplify the influence of youth organizations at both national and international levels.
Additionally, a collection of good practices was shared, focusing on fostering dialogue with decision-makers and public authorities at various levels to advocate for the advancement of youth work development.
Finally, the seminar set the stage for the upcoming 4th European Youth Work Convention, where youth workers from all Council of Europe member states will convene to discuss renewed commitments and strategic advancements to strengthen youth work across Europe.
Target group
The event brought together 58 participants from the youth work community of practice, including: researchers, policy makers from local to regional level, representatives of associations of youth workers, public sector, paid and volunteer youth workers, youth organisations delivering youth work, youth representatives, young people, etc.
Please note that this event was only open for citizens or residents of Council of Europe member states or Kazakhstan or the Holy See.
Dates and venue
The activity took place on 29-30 October 2024, in Skopje, North Macedonia (Hotel Holiday Inn). Participants arrived on 28 October and departed on 31 October. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the Youth Partnership.
