Logotipo do Projeto The Future of Youth Work'ers

The Future of Youth Work’ers

Projeto Europeu de Cooperação Transnacional

“The Future of Youth Work’ers” é um projeto europeu de cooperação transnacional, financiado pelo programa Erasmus+ (KA220 – Parcerias de Cooperação), que visa reforçar a qualidade, inovação e reconhecimento do trabalho com jovens na Europa, com especial enfoque na qualificação e valorização dos/as profissionais de juventude — os/as Youth Workers.

Coordenado pela APPJuventude – Associação Portuguesa de Profissionais de Juventude, o projeto reúne organizações de sete países (Portugal, Países Baixos, Macedónia do Norte, Grécia, Sérvia, Estónia e Itália) com o objetivo de analisar, mapear e comparar os percursos formativos, os sistemas de certificação e os modelos de reconhecimento existentes para os profissionais que trabalham com e para jovens.

Objetivos principais:

  • Mapear os modelos de formação e capacitação de Youth Workers na Europa;
  • Avaliar o grau de alinhamento dos percursos formativos com as orientações políticas europeias (Estratégia da UE para a Juventude, Processo de Bona, Agenda Europeia para o Trabalho com Jovens);
  • Criar uma proposta de formação comum, co-desenhada e co-reconhecida, que contribua para o reforço da identidade profissional dos Youth Workers a nível europeu;
  • Apoiar o reconhecimento social, político e institucional do trabalho com jovens como campo profissional estruturado e essencial à democracia e coesão social.

Resumo das Atividades do Projeto

O projeto “The Future of Youth Work’ers” reuniu sete organizações de referência na área da juventude, de diferentes países europeus, com o objetivo de mapear, comparar e fortalecer os percursos formativos e profissionais dos técnicos de juventude na Europa.

📍 Atividades Principais

✅ 1. Reuniões Transnacionais

  • TPM1 – Portugal (Gondomar e Porto): Primeira reunião de coordenação, organizada pela APPJuventude, com sessões de trabalho entre todos os parceiros e visitas técnicas à Casa de Juventude de Rio Tinto e à Câmara Municipal de Gondomar.
  • TPM2 – Itália (Arona): Validação dos primeiros resultados do projeto, planeamento do modelo formativo europeu “TOP Youth Workers” e articulação dos eventos multiplicadores.

📘 2. Resultados Intelectuais

  • R1 – Mapeamento das práticas de formação de youth workers: Diagnóstico detalhado das vias de acesso à profissão nos sete países parceiros.
  • R2 – Estudo comparativo com os referenciais europeus: Avaliação da conformidade dos sistemas nacionais com documentos como a Estratégia da UE para a Juventude, o Bonn Process e o European Training Strategy.
  • R3 – Criação do modelo formativo “TOP Youth Workers”: Proposta de percurso europeu modular, inclusivo e reconhecível, para a formação de profissionais de juventude.

📣 3. Eventos Multiplicadores

  • ME1 – Sérvia: Apresentação do diagnóstico europeu sobre formação em youth work.
  • ME2 – Macedónia do Norte: Debate sobre o alinhamento entre os contextos nacionais e os referenciais europeus.
  • ME3 – Portugal: Lançamento do modelo “TOP Youth Workers” e discussão sobre a sua aplicabilidade prática nos contextos locais e nacionais.

Resultados produzidos:

Capas dos Resultados Principais do Projeto Youth Work
🌍 Explorar EUtopia (PT) 🇬🇧 Explore EUtopia (EN)
  • R1 – Mapping of Youth Workers’ Training Practices: relatório comparativo dos modelos de formação existentes nos sete países participantes;
  • R2 – Becoming a Youth Worker: estudo de benchmarking sobre os percursos de acesso à profissão e os sistemas de qualificação disponíveis;
  • R3 – Top Youth Workers: proposta de referencial europeu de formação para Youth Workers, incluindo competências-chave, metodologias pedagógicas e estratégias de reconhecimento.

Disseminação do Projeto

Organizações Parceiras

🌍 Impacto e Futuro

O projeto 'The Future of Youth Work’ers' transcende os seus resultados diretos, aspirando a um impacto duradouro no panorama do trabalho juvenil europeu. Através da geração de conhecimento e da inspiração para novas políticas públicas, o projeto visa fortalecer os sistemas nacionais de qualificação e consolidar uma identidade europeia para os profissionais de juventude. A APPJuventude, como coordenadora, reafirma o seu compromisso em dar continuidade a este legado, em colaboração com parceiros institucionais e redes europeias, para moldar ativamente o futuro do setor.

Banners de Financiamento Erasmus
TOP Youth Workers – Scrollytelling

Why is this model necessary?

Youth workers across Europe face inconsistent recognition, lack of formal training, and limited pathways to professional growth. The TOP Youth Workers model aims to change that.

Challenges in the Profession

  • Fragmented qualification systems across countries
  • Lack of unified standards for skills and competencies
  • Low visibility and recognition of youth work
  • Limited access to structured career progression

The R3 Model: A European Response

The TOP Youth Workers model proposes a flexible, modular training path aligned with European values, frameworks, and realities. It supports growth from grassroots engagement to advanced expertise.

Explore the Modular Pathway

Module 1

Core Competences

Module 2

Working with Diversity

Module 3

Digital & Crisis Skills

Module 4

Project Design & Participation

Module 5

Recognition & Advocacy

TOP Youth Workers – Module 1

Module 1: Core Competences

📌 Overview

This module focuses on the fundamental personal and professional skills that every youth worker should develop to work effectively with young people in diverse and evolving contexts.

🎯 Key Skills Addressed

  • Communication & Active Listening: Develop empathetic and effective dialogue with young people.
  • Self-awareness & Reflection: Encourage personal growth and critical self-reflection.
  • Ethical Decision-making: Navigate ethical dilemmas grounded in youth work principles.
  • Teamwork & Collaboration: Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and networks.
  • Adaptability: Respond constructively to change and complexity.

📥 Downloadable Resources

🧪 Practical Applications

Below are examples of how Module 1 has been implemented in real training environments:

  • Reflective Circle: Weekly small group sessions where youth workers reflect on one challenging situation from their week using the non-judgmental feedback model.
  • Roleplay Labs: Simulation exercises where participants practice ethical decision-making in complex youth scenarios (e.g., confidentiality vs. safeguarding).
  • Listening Walks: Participants engage in a paired walk-and-talk activity to experience active listening and reflect on communication habits.

💬 Reflective Prompt

Think of a time when your personal values clashed with the needs of a young person. How did you respond, and what would you do differently now?

TOP Youth Workers – Module 2

Module 2: Working with Diversity

📌 Overview

This module explores how youth workers can embrace and work effectively with diversity in all its forms, creating inclusive, safe and empowering environments for all young people.

🎯 Key Skills Addressed

  • Intercultural Awareness: Understanding and respecting different cultural backgrounds and experiences.
  • Inclusive Communication: Adapting language and behaviours to ensure participation by all.
  • Conflict Sensitivity: Identifying and addressing tensions or exclusions proactively.
  • Empathy and Equity: Valuing diverse identities, ensuring fairness and accessibility.
  • Facilitation of Mixed Groups: Managing group dynamics with care and confidence.

📥 Downloadable Resources

🧪 Practical Applications

Examples of practical activities used during trainings and youth work sessions:

  • Privilege Walk: Interactive activity that helps participants reflect on visible and invisible aspects of privilege and exclusion.
  • Cultural Iceberg: Visual metaphor used to explore deep vs. surface aspects of culture in group settings.
  • Inclusive Roleplay: Participants navigate a situation involving cultural misunderstanding, followed by group reflection.

💬 Reflective Prompt

Think of a moment when you witnessed exclusion in a group setting. What did you do (or not do), and what would you do differently today to promote inclusion?

TOP Youth Workers – Module 3

Module 3: Digital & Crisis Skills

📌 Overview

This module focuses on empowering youth workers with the skills needed to operate in digital environments and respond effectively to situations of individual or collective crisis.

🎯 Key Skills Addressed

  • Digital Youth Work: Using technology to reach and engage young people.
  • Online Facilitation: Managing digital spaces for learning and participation.
  • Mental Health First Aid: Recognizing and responding to signs of emotional distress.
  • Crisis Communication: Navigating sensitive topics and urgent situations with clarity.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: Managing change and uncertainty with confidence.

📥 Downloadable Resources

🧪 Practical Applications

Examples of real-world training and intervention practices linked to this module:

  • Online Youth Café: Weekly digital meetups for informal peer support and dialogue moderated by youth workers.
  • Crisis Simulation: Roleplay-based activity where participants manage a fictional crisis affecting a group of young people.
  • Check-In Bots: Using simple chatbot tools to monitor emotional wellbeing of youth during isolated periods.

💬 Reflective Prompt

Describe a time when digital tools helped you stay connected with young people during a difficult situation. What worked well, and what challenges did you face?

TOP Youth Workers – Module 4

Module 4: Project Design & Participation

📌 Overview

This module equips youth workers with the tools to design meaningful projects with and for young people, ensuring that participation is genuine, empowering and impactful.

🎯 Key Skills Addressed

  • Needs Assessment: Identifying the real challenges and aspirations of young people.
  • Co-creation Methodologies: Designing projects together with youth, not just for them.
  • Facilitating Participation: Creating safe spaces for decision-making and contribution.
  • Project Management: Planning, implementing and evaluating youth-led projects.
  • Empowerment Strategies: Encouraging autonomy, voice and leadership in youth.

📥 Downloadable Resources

🧪 Practical Applications

Real examples of how youth participation and project design can come together:

  • Youth Hackathons: Short, intensive events where young people design community solutions in teams.
  • Participatory Budgeting Labs: Young people vote and decide on how to allocate a small budget for local projects.
  • Project Pitch Nights: Youth present project ideas to a panel of stakeholders for support and funding.

💬 Reflective Prompt

When was the last time you fully involved young people in shaping a project from start to finish? What would you replicate or change next time?

TOP Youth Workers – Module 5

Module 5: Recognition & Advocacy

📌 Overview

This final module highlights the importance of promoting the visibility, recognition, and societal value of youth work – both for young people and for youth workers themselves.

🎯 Key Skills Addressed

  • Youthpass & Recognition Tools: Documenting and validating learning through European tools.
  • Advocacy Strategies: Communicating the impact of youth work to institutions and society.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Building relationships with decision-makers and allies.
  • Storytelling for Change: Using personal and collective narratives to influence public perception.
  • Policy Influence: Contributing to youth-related policy development and implementation.

📥 Downloadable Resources

🧪 Practical Applications

How this module is used in real-world training and youth policy contexts:

  • Youth Work Testimonies: Youth workers prepare personal impact stories for presentation to municipal youth councils or policy-makers.
  • Recognition Labs: Group sessions to explore different recognition mechanisms, including Youthpass and local certificates.
  • Advocacy Pitch: Youth workers co-create a campaign to raise awareness about youth work and its social value.

💬 Reflective Prompt

In what ways do you feel your work as a youth worker is recognised (or not) in your local context? What steps could you take to change that?