Youth Work: Enhancing Youth Employability?

About the Youth in Action programmeYouth in Action is a programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU's borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the employability and inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural backgrounds: Youth in Action is a programme for everyone! The Youth in Action Programme aims to achieve the following general objectives:• promoteyoungpeople’sactivecitizenshipingeneral,andtheir

Europeancitizenshipinparticular;• developsolidarityandpromotetoleranceamongyoungpeople,

inparticularinordertofostersocialcohesionintheEuropeanUnion;

• fostermutualunderstandingbetweenyoungpeopleindifferentcountries;

• contributetodevelopingthequalityofsupportsystemsforyouthactivitiesandthecapabilitiesofcivilsocietyorganisationsintheyouthfield;

• promoteEuropeancooperationintheyouthfield.

The Programme is structured around 5 Actions:• Action1-YouthforEurope:encouragesyoungpeople's

activecitizenship,participationandcreativitythroughyouthexchanges,youthinitiativesandyouthdemocracyprojects.

• Action2-EuropeanVoluntaryService:helpsyoungpeopletodeveloptheirsenseofsolidaritybyparticipating,eitherindividuallyoringroup,innon-profit,unpaidvoluntaryactivitiesabroad.

• Action3-YouthintheWorld:promotespartnershipsandexchangesamongyoungpeopleandyouthorganisationsacrosstheworld.

• Action4-YouthSupportSystems:includesvariousmeasurestosupportyouthworkersandyouthorganisationsandimprovethequalityoftheiractivities.

• Action5-SupportforEuropeanCo-operationintheYouthField:supportsyouthpolicyco-operationattheEuropeanlevel,inparticularbyfacilitatingdialoguebetweenyoungpeopleandpolicymakers.

The permanent priorities of the Youth in Action programme are:• Europeancitizenship• Participationofyoungpeople• Culturaldiversity• InclusionofyoungpeoplewithfeweropportunitiesMore information:http://ec.europa.eu/youth/

Youth Work: Enhancing Youth Employability?

Title: YouthWork:“EnhancingYouthEmployability?”Published by: InstituteMOVIT,Ljubljana,SloveniaDirector of publication: JanezŠkuljText written by: TadejBeočanin,VesnaMiloševič,JanezŠkuljStories and project descriptions:

submittedbytheparticipantsoftheseminar

Editor: TadejBeočaninCopy Editor: PrevajalskestoritveContineo,MarkoIpavecs.p.Photos: ArchiveMOVIT,ShutterstockImagesDesign and layout: LeaGorenšekPrinting: BirografikaBori,2011

CIP-KataložnizapisopublikacijiNarodnainuniverzitetnaknjižnica,Ljubljana

331.5-053.6(082)

BEOČANIN,TadejYouthwork:enhacingyouthemployability?/[textwrittenbyTadejBeočanin,VesnaMiloševič,JanezŠkulj].-Ljubljana:InstituteMovit,2011

ISBN978-961-6826-09-91.Gl.stv.nasl.2.Miloševič,Vesna3.Škulj,Janez256657152

Table of Contents

IINTRODUCTION 6

Editor 6

Minister of Education and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia 7

ABOUT THE SEMINAR 8

YOUTH WORK: ENHANCING YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY? 10

Youth Unemployment in the EU 11

Employability is the Hit of the Day Even in the Field of Youth Work 17

Outcomes of the “Youth Work: Enhancing Youth Employability?” seminar 20

STORIES OF SUCCESS 26

APPENDICIES 32

Programme of the seminar 32

List of participants 33

INTRODUCTION

DearReader,

Thisbooklet isbasedon the resultsof theseminarentitled“YouthWork:EnhancingYouthEmployability?”,whichtookplace inApril2011inLjubljana,Slovenia.TheseminarwasorganisedbytheEUYouth inActionprogrammewiththeNationalAgenciesofSlovenia(ZavodMovit),Portugal(AgênciaNacionalparaaGestãodoProgramaJuventudeemAcção),Italy(AgenziaNazionaleperiGiovani),Estonia(ArchimedesFoundation),Finland(KansainvälisenliikkuvuudenjayhteistyönkeskusCIMO),Poland(FundacjaRozwojuSystemuEdukacji)andSweden(Ungdomsstyrelsen–NationalBoardforYouthAffairs)andinclosecooperationwithSaltoInclusionResourceCentre.

Theaimof this internationalseminarwas to review the roleof youthworkandcompetencesacquisition toenhance the employability of young people, with an emphasis on non-formal learning in learningmobilityprogrammes.

Theseminarstartedwiththesituationregardingyouth(un)employment,determiningthereasonsforthepresentunpleasantsituation.Knowingthereasons,participantsapproachedpossiblesolutionstowardshigheryouthemployment,lookingforwaystodevelopcompetencesforhigheremployabilitythroughyouthwork.Inthemainpartoftheseminar,participantsoccupiedthemselveswiththeroleofyouthworkandotherpolicymeasuresinyoungpeople’scompetencesacquisitionanddevelopment,focusingonlearningoutcomesthatenhancetheemployabilityofyoungpeople.

Becauseitwasopenforyouthworkers,youthresearchers,decisionmakersandexperts,allworkinginthefieldofyouthemployment,itprovidedadiversegroupofparticipants.Thisgroupprovedtobehighlymotivatedtoactivelyparticipatethroughouttheseminar.Amonthaftertheseminar,almostallparticipantstogetherappliedanewprojecttoYouthinActionprogramme,dealingwiththesamesubject.Icouldnotimagineabetterfollowup.

Iwouldliketousethisopportunitytothankalloftheparticipantsfortheircontributionswithstoriesandgoodpracticeexamples. IwanttothankthetrainersAndreiaHenriques(PT),AnsgarBüter-Menke(GE)andMatejCepin(SI)fortheirprofessionalismandtomycolleaguesatInstituteMovitfortheirgreatsupport.Finally,Iwanttothanktheco-organisersfortheirinputinpreparing,implementingandfinancingtheseminar.

Special thanksalso toMr Igor Lukšič,Minister of EducationandSport of theRepublic of Slovenia, for hisopeningspeech.

Thisbookletaimstodisseminatetheresultsoftheseminar.Onthefollowingpages,readerscanfindsomeexpertarticles,opinions,discussionresults,storiesofsuccessandmore,allconnectedwithyouthworkanditsimpactonyouthemployability.

Enjoyreading!TadejBeočanin,Editor

InstituteMOVITSlovenianYouthinActionNationalAgency

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Spoštovanibralec,spoštovanabralka!

Novembra 2009 je Svet EU sprejel Prenovljeni okvir evropskegasodelovanja na področjumladine 2010-2018, ki je nastal na podlagipredloga Evropske komisije »Nova strategija EU za mlade: vlaganjevanjeinkrepljenjenjihovevlogeinpoložaja«inpredstavljanadgradnjoinprenovodosedanjegaevropskegasodelovanjanapodročjumladine.

Evropsko sodelovanje na področju mladine predvideva sodelovanjemladinskih organizacij in delavcev, raziskovalcev s področja mladinetermladihsamihtakoprioblikovanjuukrepovkottudianalizinjihovegauresničevanja. Sodelovanje naj bi bilo zagotovljeno preko rednihposvetovanjoz.strukturiranegadialoga.

Pogojizauspešendialogpasosevedainformiranostinzainteresiranostmladinskihorganizacijindrugihakterjevnapodročjumladineoaktualnihdogajanjih terdolgoročnonačrtovanjedialoga,njihovasposobnost,daoblikujejosvojastališčainpredlogeterjihjavnoizrazijoterpripravljenostnacionalnih in lokalnih oblasti, da tem predlogom prisluhnejo ter jimnamenijoustreznopozornost.

Decembra2009jeEurodeskSlovenijaorganiziralnacionalniseminar,nakaterem je zainteresiranimorganizacijam in posameznikompodrobnopredstavil potek evropskega sodelovanja na področju mladine. S topublikacijoželimoznjimseznanitituditisteakterjenapodročjumladine,kiseseminarjanisoudeležili.

Upamo,davasbopublikacijaspodbudilakaktivnivključitvivproces,kistrukturiranopotekažedesetlet-procesoblikovanjamladinskepolitikev Evropski uniji, katerih neposredni učinki se odražajo v nacionalnihpolitikahinzakonodajinapodročjumladine.TudivSloveniji.

ŽivaMahkotainTinkaraBizjakZupanc, EurodeskSlovenija MOVIT,NacionalnaagencijaprogramaMladivakciji

DearReader,

Democraticsocietiesarebasedonresponsiblecitizens.Youthorganisations,asthebasicplatformforyouthworkand(atthesametime)thebasiclearningenvironmentfordemocracy,builduponyoungindividualsasactiveandresponsiblecitizens,whowillkeepsuchattitudesfortherestoftheirlives.

Fora country todevelop, itmust recognise the interestboth in theupbringingof responsible citizens,andin the highest possible fostering of autonomy, i.e. in acquiring competences for independent life. Youthorganisationstrainandenableyoungpeopletoinfluencesociety,tohelpthemontheirpathtoeconomicandsocialindependenceandconsequentlytohaveakeyinfluenceonthedevelopmentofthecountry.

Membershipinyouthorganisationsleadstoactiveandresponsiblecitizenshipandimprovesyoungpeople’squalityoflife,bothduringandaftertheirmembership,becauseitensurestheacquisitionofknowledge,skills,important valuesand responsibility for society, and thus contributes to their successful development in allareasoflife.

Youthorganisationsareoftenthemostoverlookedpartofcivilsociety;manydonotthinktheyneedspecialmeasures.However, such reasoning does not hold, if we consider the importance of activities undertakenby young individuals in the framework of youth organisations. If we strive for a healthy, harmonious andinterconnected society, givingaperspective for the futureandenablingahappyandproductive life, youngpeopleneedtobeproperlyprovidedfor.

On27thApril 2009, theEuropeanCommissionadoptedanewEU strategy for youthpolicy for the comingdecade. Entitled “Youth – Investing and Empowering”, the new strategy acknowledges the fact that youngpeopleareoneofthemostvulnerablegroupsinsociety,especiallyinthecurrenteconomicandfinancialcrisis,andthatyoungpeopleareapreciousresourceinourageingsociety.Thestrategyemphasisestheimportantroleofyouthworkindealingwithunemployment,schoolfailureandsocialexclusion,aswellasimprovingskillsandprovidingleisuretime.

Non-formaleducationandinformallearningareamongthekeycharacteristicsofyouthwork.Youthorganisationsofferanenvironmentconducivetolearning,mainlyduetotheirmethodsandlearningenvironment,whichdonotputyoungpeoplemerelyintheroleofstudents,butoftenallowthemtoco-developthelearningprocess,andtoserveasresourcesofknowledgefortheirpeers,withwhomtheylearn,upgradeanduncovernewknowledgetogether.Inthisway,youngpeopledevelopapositiveattitudetowardslearningandtakeresponsibilityfortheirownlearningprocessandacquiredknowledge.Thispositiveapproachtolearningallowsthemtorealisethatknowledgecanbegainedindifferentlearningsituations,indifferentways,thatdifferentformsof(formal,non-formalandinformal)learningarecomplementaryandinterlinked.Inthisway,youngpeoplelearntodeveloptheirtransferablecompetencesthroughtheirwholelife,notonlyinyouth.

IgorLukšič,Ph.D.MinisterofEducationandSportoftheRepublicofSlovenia

TheMinisterofEducationandSportoftheRepublicofSloveniaopenedtheseminarwithakeynotespeech,inwhichhevaluedthecontributionofyouthworkforyouthemployabilityanddemocraticsocieties.

Photo:TitKošir

Youthworkisout-of-schooleducationmanagedbyprofessionalorvoluntaryyouthworkerswithinyouthorganisations,townhalls,youthcentres,churchesetc.,whichcontributestothedevelopmentofyoungpeople.Togetherwithfamiliesandwithotherprofessionals,youthworkcanhelptodealwithunemployment,schoolfailureandsocialexclusion,aswellastoprovideleisuretime.Itcanalsoincreaseskillsandsupportthetransitionfromyouthtoadulthood.Oneofthemainaspectsofthistransitionisgettingajobandanopenquestionremains:“Howcanyouthworkenhanceyouthemployment?”Europeaninstitutionsandorganizationsresponsibleforyouthpolicyhaveonseveraloccasionsemphasizedtheimportanceofyouthworktofosteryoungpeople’semployability.

Theseminar“YouthWork:EnhancingYouthemployability?”aimedtoreviewtheroleofyouthworkandcompetencesacquisitiontoenhancetheemployabilityofyoungpeople. It tookplacefromthe28thto29thApril2011intheCityHotelinLjubljana,Slovenia.Therewere21participants,representing10differentcountriesandthreedifferentprofiles:theseminargatheredyouthworkers,youthresearchersanddecisionmakers–allexpertsworkinginthefieldofyouth.Participantshadtheopportunityto:

• respondtothechallengesthathavebeenbroughtbynewEUyouthstrategytoyouthworkinthecontextoflearning;

• identifyandpresentexamplesofgoodpractice(actionsonpoliciesandYouthinActionprojectsthatenhancetheemployabilityofyoungpeople);

• identifythepositionandtheroleofnon-formallearningintheframeofkeycompetencesforbettertransitiontothelabourmarket;

• understandbettertheneedsofotherstakeholdersandunderstandwhatandhowtheycancontributetotheemployability(gettingajob)ofyoungpeople.

Abouttheseminar

AnEUStrategyforYouth–InvestingandEmpowering(http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int/youth-partnership/news/attachments/communication_final.pdfaccessedonJune15th,2011)

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Accordingtothegoals,thetwo-dayprogrammecoveredavarietyoftopics,suchasidentifyingobstaclestobecomeemployedintheEUin2011,youthwork(anditssolutionsforyouthunemployment), sharing best practices and successful stories, the contribution of youthworkforyouthemployability,otherpolicymeasurestoachievehigheremployment,etc.Thefollowingquestionswerealsodiscussed:

• Howcanyouthworkhelptotackletheissueofunemploymentamongyoungpeople?• Ifyouthworkshouldhelptoresolveunemploymentamongyoungpeople,doesthatmeanitisbeingrecognized?Isprofessionalizationofyouthworkneededinorderforittoperformthistask?

• Howcanyouthworkbefurthersupportedinordertodeliverresults?• Howcannon-formallearningwithinyouthworkbefurtherincreased?• Whatistheaddedvalueofinternationalyouthworkintermsofincreasingemployabilityofyoungpeople?

• Howislearningmobilityincreasingworkingmobility?

We received a good feedback from the participants. The following are a selection of comments by the participants:

“Thanks for the methods; they kept us actively participating in the seminar.”

“It was always useful to stop and discuss even the most basic points of one’s work.”

“There is a need to organize more of these kind of activities (concerning entrepreneurship and employability), because the youth sector is not prepared yet.”

“Thank you all, it was great!”

“It was really good and helpful.”

“Youth work needs a complex approach, but the solutions can be simple.”

“I’m very grateful, to be a part of it.”

“I got a lot of useful information I can use for future work.”

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YouthWork:EnhancingYouthEmployability?

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YouthUnemploymentintheEU

EU-27meanstheEuropeanUnionwithits27memberstates.

Author: Vesna Miloševič

I.UNEMPLOYMENT

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE

UnemploymentisoneofthekeyissuesinmostEuropeancountriesthesedays.Whileithadalreadybeenmuchdiscussedbeforetheeconomicandfinancialcrisis,thecrisisitselfdefinitelyputitonthetopprioritylistofrelevantthemes.Inadditiontounemploymentingeneral,particularattentionhasfallenonyouthunemployment.Youthareavulnerablegrouponthelabourmarketandtheywerestruckhardestbythecrisis,afactputforwardbytheEuropeanCommissionintheNewEUStrategyforYouth(2009).Youthrepresentaquarterof theworld’sworkforce,buton theotherhand theyalso representhalfoftheunemployedpopulationallovertheworld(KrižmaninVertot2009,1).Therefore,aspecialfocusshouldbeplacedonovercomingthedifficultiesyouthfacewhenenteringthelabourmarketandtheissuestheyencounterwhentryingtoremainthere.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS

SaraElder,aneconomistfromtheInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO),reportsthat“in2009, the youthunemployment rate in thedevelopedeconomieswas17.7%, thehighest this region has ever seen” (ILO 2010a). Still, youth unemployment rates intheEuropeanUnionrose toastaggering21% in2010andthenumbers reached5.5millionby January2010 (EuropeanCommission2010). InAprilof thesameyear, theunemploymentrateamongyouthunder25yearsofageintheEU-27was21.1%.Thenumberthengraduallydeclinedto20.3%byApril2011(EuropeanCommission2011).Forcomparison,theaverageEUunemploymentrateinApril2011was9.9%(EuropeanCommission2011).ItshouldbenotedthatyouthunemploymentintheEUisgenerally2-3timeshigherthanadultunemployment(IgnjatovićandTrbanc2009,46).

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THE IMPACT OF CRISIS

Increases in youth unemployment rates were much higher than increases in adultunemploymentrates,sinceyouthunemploymentconditionsarealotmoresensitivetoeconomicfluctuations(ILO2010a).Inaddition,theyouthlabourmarketrequiresmoretimetorecoverfromthecrisis(ILO2010a).Youthrepresentthesocalled“last-in,first-out”segmentof thepopulation (AshbyCohen2011),whichmeans theyare thefirstonestobedismissedwhenthesituationintheeconomyworsensandthelastonestobehiredwhencompaniesonceagainneedaworkforce.

Thegeneration thatenters the labourmarketduringa timeof crisisandcannot findproper employment, subsequently becoming discouraged and desperate, has beendubbedthe“lostgeneration”bythemediaandsomeotherorganizations(AdaptedfromILO2010aandInman2011).

CONSEQUENCES OF (LONG-TERM) UNEMPLOYMENT

Theeffectsof long-termunemploymentonyouthcanbesevereanddevastating.Thisholds especially true for underprivileged groups which are even more vulnerable,suchasuneducated youth, ethnicalminorities,migrants, people fromdifferent racialbackgrounds,etc (ILO2010c). The youngareonly starting their independent lifeandusuallydon’thaveenoughfinancialcapitalorsufficientsavingstosurviveontheirownwithoutregularearnings.Furthermore,theyoftenlackthesocialcapitalthatcouldhelpthemseekoutanewjobwithinashortperiodoftime.Theirselfesteemcansufferandtheconsequencescanbeseenforlife.Becauseoflong-termunemployment,orduetoprecariousworking conditions once they domanage to find employment (short-term,poorlypaid jobswithnosecurity),manyyoungpeoplealsodelaytheirdeparturefromtheparentalhome,thesettingupoftheirownfamilyandthedecisiontohavechildren(Eurostat2009,111).

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TRANSITION FROM EDUCATION TO THE LABOUR MARKET

Transitionfromeducationtothelabourmarketisaveryimportantphaseinthelifeofeveryyoungperson.Itrepresentsthetransitionfromchildhoodtoadulthood,thepersonaldevelopmentfromeconomicandsocialdependence(onparents)toindependence,andit is therefore of critical importance for the autonomy of the young individual (Vertot2009, 10). Most young people face difficulties during this phase and are especiallyexposedtotherisksofsocialexclusionandpoverty(EuropeanYouthForum).

OBSTACLES

Whenenteringthelabourmarket,youthfacesimilarobstaclesinmostEuropeancountries.(1)Informationaboutthelabourmarketisofteninsufficientandyoungpeopledon’treceiveenoughguidanceandsupportduringthisveryimportantstageoflife.(2)Internshipsarenotpaidwellenoughandsometimesdon’teveninvolvealearningexperience.Inmanycountries,internshipsactasareplacementforyouthjobs.(3)Thereisalackoffinancialsupportandmentoringschemestoencourageentrepreneurshipandself-employmentamongyouth.(4)Furthermore,non-formallearningandthecompetencesgainedthroughextracurricularactivitiesandyouth-workarenotrecognized.Thismakesitmoredifficultforyouthtopresenttheirachievementswhenenteringthelabourmarketastheyusuallyhavenexttonoformalworkexperiencetoshow.(5)Discriminationinthehiringofyoungpeople, especially young women, and discrimination in working conditions for youngpeopleisstillpresent.(6)Inaddition,theroleofyouthworkisveryoftennotrecognizedbytheauthoritiesand(7)youthareexcludedfromthesocialdialogue(Adaptedfrom:BelgianPresidency2010;SpanishPresidency2010;HungarianPresidency2011).

UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT

Formanyyoungpeopletheproblemisnotjustunemploymentbutalsounderemployment.Theyfinditdifficulttogetadecentjobandsatisfactoryworkingconditions.Manyyoungpeoplecannotfindanemploymentpositionthatmatchestheireducationlevelandfieldofstudy.Agreatnumberofyouthworkinunstableandunbearableworkingconditions;theydounacceptablylongworkinghours,theyworkinshifts,duringtheweekendsetc.(ILO2011).

Statistics show that increasing numbers of youth are working in non-standardemployment,whichhaslittletonojobsecurity,nosocialsecurity,nohealthprotectionandsafetyatwork,notradeunionrepresentationandisaccompaniedbyloworevenuncertainwages(EuropeanMetalworkers’Federation).Suchemploymentisreferredtoasprecariousemploymentandis,unfortunately,becominganeverydayrealityformanyyoungpeopleallovertheworld.

II.PROBLEMSYOUTHFACEONTHELABOURMARKET

“AccordingtoEuropeanstudies,50%of15-24yearoldsand25%of25-29yearoldsarelockedinprecariousemploymentsituations”(SpanishPresidency2010,7).

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Figuresource:(Eurostat2009,118).

YOUNG EMPLOYEES IN TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT

Acertain typeofsegmentationexistson the labourmarketwhereyoungworkersaremore often caught in temporary employment and are over-represented among short-termworkers,whereasolderworkersreceivesecure,long-termcontracts(IgnjatovićandTrbanc2009,42).Theshareoftemporarycontractsdecreaseswithage(Eurostat2009,118).

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Thegeneralemploymentsituationdefinitelyrequireschangesinordertobemoreyouth-friendly.Career-orientedtrainingandguidanceshouldbeprovidedforallyouth,non-formallearningoutcomesmustberecognizedand likewisetheroleofyouthwork.Transitionfromeducationtothelabourmarketshouldbesmoothenedbydecentinternshipsandyoungpeople shouldhaveaccess to long-term jobswith fair payand secureworkingconditions(HungarianPresidency2011).

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Throughyouthworkandinyouthorganizations,youngpeoplegainvaluablenon-formaleducation and become active citizens. This integrates them into society (with majoreffectsespeciallyonvulnerablegroups),andhelpsthemperformbetterineverydaylife.

Youthworkgivesaddedvaluetoyoungpeopleandequipsthemwithcompetencesthathelp themin theircareer life;eitherwhensearching foremploymentor inperformingbetter at work later on. Besides raising their employability, it allows young people tobecomemoreconfidentabouttheirachievedworkandvoicetheircompetenceseasier.

Competencesgainedthroughyouthworkdifferfromoneindividualtoanother,butquiteoftentheyincludemostkeycompetences;(1)communicationinthemothertongueandveryoftenalso(2)communicationinforeignlanguages,(3)acquisitionofsocialandciviccompetences,(4)culturalawarenessandexpression,(5)learningtolearn,(6)acquiringasenseofinitiativeandentrepreneurship,andlastbutnotleast(7)mathematicaland(8)digitalcompetences.Keycompetencesarethose“whichallindividualsneedforpersonalfulfilment and development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment”(EuropeanCommission2007).

III. INFLUENCEOFYOUTHWORKONRAISINGOFYOUTHEMPLOYABILITY

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REFERENCES:1. AshbyCohen-SolicitorsLtd.2008.United Kingdom: Last In, First Out Redundancy Policy.Availableat:

http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=68126(21stJune2011).2. BelgianPresidency.2010.JointRecommendationsoftheBelgianPresidency,EUYouthConference

onYouthEmployment.Availableat:http://www.anst.gov.ro/documente/documente/JOINT%20RECOMMENDATIONS%20Leuven.pdf(18thJune2011).

3. EuropeanCommission,EducationandCultureDG.2007.KeyCompetencesforLifelongLearning-EuropeanReferenceFramework.Availableat:http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/pdf/ll-learning/keycomp_en.pdf(22ndJune2011).

4. EuropeanCommission.2009.New EU Strategy for Youth: Youth – Investing and Empowering. Availableat:http://ec.europa.eu/youth/news/news1458_en.htm(19thJune2010).

5. ---2010.Latest youth unemployment figures.Availableat:http://ec.europa.eu/youth/news/news1724_en.htm(20thJune2011).

6. EuropeanCommission–Eurostat.2011.Unemployment statistics.Availableat:http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics(21stJune2011).

7. European Metalworkers’ Federation.Annex.Whatisprecariouswork?Availableat:www.precariouswork.eu/content/.../Definition+of+precarious+work.pdf(19thJune2011).

8. European Youth Forum.EmploymentandSocialAffairs.Availableat: http://www.youthforum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=81&lang=en(20th

June2011).9. Eurostat.2009.Youth in Europe – a Statistical Portrait. Availableat:http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/

cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-78-09-920/EN/KS-78-09-920-EN.PDF(20thJune2011).10.HungarianPresidency.2011.Outcomes of the Hungarian Presidency, EU Youth Conference on Youth

Employment.Availableat:http://eu2011.mobilitas.hu/userfiles/file/Outcomes%20Budapest%20EU%20Youth%20Conference.pdf(18thJune2011).

11. Ignjatović,MiroljubandMartinaTrbanc.2009.Zaposlovanjeinbrezposelnostmladih:aktivni,fleksibilniinprilagodljivi.InMed otroštvom in odraslostjo,editedbyUrbanBoljkaandTatjanaRakar,38-55.Ljubljana:MinistryofEducationandSport–OfficeoftheRSforYouthandtheSocialSecurityInstituteoftheRS.

12. ILO–InternationalLabourOrganization.2010a.HighestYouthUnemploymentEver:AnInterviewwithILOEconomistSaraEdler.Media and Public Information– Video Interviews,12thAugust.Availableat:http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Broadcast_materials/Videointerviews/lang--en/docName--WCMS_143367/index.htm(20thJune2011).

13. ---2010b.WorldeconomiccrisishasspurredarecordincreaseinyouthunemploymentsaysILO.Communication and public information,11thAugust2010.Availableat:http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_143356/index.htm(19thJune2011).

14. ---2010c.YouthUnemploymentinCrisis:QuestionsandAnswersontheSituationofYouthontheLabourMarket.Communication and public information,July14th.Availableat:http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Feature_stories/lang--en/WCMS_142805/index.htm(30thJuly2010).

15. ---2011.Resource Guide on Youth Employment.http://www.ilo.org/public/english/support/lib/resource/subject/youth.htm(21stJune2011).

16. Inman,Phillip.2011.Fearsof‘lostgeneration’asyouthunemploymenthitsrecord.The Guardian,19thJanuary.Availableat:http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jan/19/youth-unemployment-at-record-high

17. SpanishPresidency.2010. Joint Conclusions of the Spanish Presidency, EU Youth Conference on Youth Employment and Social Inclusion.Availableat:http://www.youth-eutrio.be/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6737496965594575634A413D&tabid=96&language=nl-BE&stats=false(18thJune2011).

18.Vertot,Nelka.2009.Mladi v Sloveniji (Youth in Slovenia).Ljubljana:StatisticalOfficeoftheRepublicofSlovenia.

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EmployabilityistheHitoftheDayEvenintheFieldofYouthWorkAuthor: Janez Škulj

Youthpoliciesalwaystrytoaddresswhat isconsideredasthemainchallengefortheintegrationofeachnewgenerationintosociety.Today,though,classicchallengessuchasparticipation,activecitizenshipandsimilaronesseem tohavebeenpushedbacksomewhat.Nooneissayingthatprovidingopportunitiesforlearningaboutparticipationortheencouragementofactive,responsiblecitizenshipisredundant.Weallknowtheseconcepts are still highly relevant andmay be needed evenmore in the future.Why,then,doesthistraditionalareaofyouthworkseemtohavefadedintothebackgroundwhileincreasesinemployabilityandentrepreneurshipasthecurrentpopulargoalsandobjectivesaremovingfastforwardinpublicpolicies?

The idea that youth work should be a factor that clearly contributes to the betteremployabilityofyoungpeopleandhasadirecteffectonallparticipatingyoungpeoplein terms of “making their own living” is not something that is accepted with greatenthusiasmatthelevelofmanyyouthNGOoryouthservices.Inthisregard,thereareaquiteafewquestionmarks,evenfears.Certainly,suchadevelopmentcantransformandevensubstantiallychangethelandscapeofyouthworkinEurope.

ButthelandscapeoflifeinEuropeischanginganyway.Yes,itwouldbeniceifwecouldpreservethestatusquo,if–inotherworlds–wecouldcontinuewiththefutureofourparents.Foralongtime,onecouldsaythatingeneral,thelifeofeverynewgenerationwasbetterthanthatofthepreviousone.Betterintermsofthequalityoflife,materialwealthandalsopersonalandcollective(social)security.Today,though,itisbecomingapparentthatmanyopportunitiesthatweretakenforgrantedduringthe70s,80sand90swillbemoredifficulttoreach,andtheiraccessibilitywillbeconsiderablylower.

Ifacademicdiscussionsinthe70sactuallydebatedthechallengesofoverabundantfreetime,sinceithadseemedthatlessandlessworkwasneededtoensureadecentliving,noone todaycouldeven imaginesuchnotions. Instead, thecurrentdiscussiondealswiththechallengesofsecuringadecentliving,ofactuallyfindingworkpaidwellenoughtoprovideforthebasicneedsofexistence.Theimpactofeconomichardshipgoesfarbeyondmerelyaffectingthepurchasingpowerofpeopleandsocieties.

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Witha40%unemploymentrateamongyoungpeopleinsomeEuropeancountries,thepatternofintegrationofthisgenerationinto“adulthood”willbemuchmorechallenging.Foreach individualaswell as societyasawhole.And the consequencesof suchanextendedvolumeof“prolongedyouth”willhaveresoundingimpacts.Thisisnotjustaquestionof lifestyleorculture, it reachesdeepintothefoundationsofall theexistingeconomicandsocialsolutionsknownasthewelfarestateinEurope.

Therefore, thequestionofproviding foroneself isnowverymuch in the focusofanythinking about the future. Given the prospect that our income will be much moreburdenedbyexpenses for foodandenergy,with reducedaccess toall the “goodies”enjoyedby the previous generations, the future ismore than just a challenge to ourpresentunderstandingofwhatlife“shouldofferus”.Asmyfatheroftentoldme,lifeowesmenoting–itwillonlygivemewhatIamabletotake.

Withoutprosperityforall,isthereafutureforEuropethewayweknewityesterdayandstilldotoday?Withpotentialdecline,arewesafeagainstextremeradicalism?Weshouldnot forget that thewish toorganizeabettersocietywasan important impetus forallthreetotalitarianregimesinEuropeduringthe20thcentury.TheconsequencesofmajorchangesinEuropeansocietiesaroundthetimeofWorldWarOne,economichardships,growingsocialinjustice,thesehaveallcontributedtotheriseofsolutionsforonegroup,oneclass,onenation…Andsoonenoughthesesolutionscouldonlysurvivebyexcludingothergroups,otherclasses,othernations.ThisisthereasonIamscepticalaboutmanyideasgoingaroundtodaycallingfordifferent,bettersocieties.

Whereisyouthworkinthebigpicture?Whyshouldyouthworkbechargedwiththesametasksmanyothersystemsinsocietywerealreadyresponsiblefor?AsIheardsooftenduring the past year, though, thedecision-makers are determined.What isn’t proventocontributeto“growth”,smart,sustainableandinclusivegrowth–thebigtitleoftheEurope2020Strategy–isnowgoingoutthewindow.

Inaway,thequestionissimple:Willyouthworkaspartofthepublicpolicies’focusgoalongandacceptitsadditionalmajorrole,orwillitbeleftout,becominglikearareanimalthatisnicetokeeparoundwhenwecanaffordonebutisnogreatlosswhenwecan’t.

On the other side, if youthwork becomes just another complementary area to othereducational institutional paths, sharing the same aims and objectives, how will thataffectyoungpeoplewhodesiretobeapartofit?Ultimately,wemightendupwithyouthworkbutnoyoungpeopletoworkwith.

I never had doubts that the work of a group of young peoplemaking small and bigdecisionstogether,learningtorespectandtotakeintoaccounttheneedsandabilitiesofothermembersof“society”,isthebestwaytolearnaboutdemocraticparticipation.Somethingthatschoolcannotprovide.Butcanyouthworkcompetewithschoolsintermsofgettingthere–tothefirstdayoflastingemployment?Andifnot,whatthen?Isitjustanadditionalsafetynetforreturningdropoutsbackintothesystem?

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Ialwaysbelievedthatbringingtogetheryoungpeoplefromdifferentwalksoflifesotheycandothingstogetherisanelementofthepromotionofsocialcohesion,callit“inclusionwork”ifyouwill.AndIamcertainofthebenefitsthatinvolvementinyouthworkhasonselfconfidence,socialandotherskills,ontakinginitiativeandonstrongerself-responsibility.Icanalsoseethatallthesepotentialachievementscansignificantlycontributetoone’sabilitytofindajobortocreateajob.Beinginvolvedininternationalyouthworkcanbedescribedasenrolment inuniversitystudieswithintheeducationalpathsprovidedbyyouthwork. Ifanything, the inherent linksto futureemploymentpossibilitiesareevenstronger.

Butevenwithall itspositivecontributions,involvementinyouthworkcanonlybeoneaspectofyoungpeople’seffortstoincreasetheiremployability.Themainpathstilllieswith the formaleducationalsystem. In thiscontext, informal learningcertainlycannotreplaceit.

Thisiswhatworriesme.Inthecontextofparticipation,youthworkwaspreviouslyseenasanindependentfield.Now,youthworkfocusingonemployability,stronglysupportedwithinpublicpoliciesonalllevels,mightchangeourunderstandingofthefieldintosomethingthatmerelycomplementsothersystems.Thiscanchangemanythings.Thereisnodoubtthatyouthworkinthepast,EastorWestoftheBerlinwall,wasalwaysinstrumentalizedwithinthesocialandpoliticalcontext.Thistime,though,attemptsto instrumentalize itso tightly toone important (butnot the sole important)aspectof thecurrentneed tointegrateyoungpeopleintosocietymightalsokillyouthworkasweknowit.

Nevertheless,thereareafewthingsIconsiderhighlypositivedespiteallthequestionmarks,andtheyareworththinkingabout.

Playersinthefieldofyouthwork–youthorganizationsandyouthservices–willhaveample opportunity to reflect on the issue of their role in the bigger picture and thepossibility of repositioning themselveswithin new realities. As long as the young arearound,youthworkwillalwaysexistinoneformoranothernomatterwhetheroutsideorinsideofpublicpolicies.Perhaps,wewillonceagainhaveyouthleadersfollowingideasandnotsomanyyouthprojectsmanagers.

Those operating in the field of youth work will have an opportunity to increase theirlearningpotentialand formulate themselvesasanenvironment for learning. Inmanycircumstances,theresultsofyouthworkaremisinterpretedanditspotentialneglected.It istimetoforgetabouttheoldexcusethatthe“worlddoesnotunderstandus”.The“world”willnotlearnourlanguage.Intheupcomingdebates,wehavetospeaktothe“world”onitsownterms.ThedebatesonthefutureoftheEUprogrammeinthefieldofyouththataregoingaroundjustnowarecrucial.Thearchitecturetheysetup,includingthequestionofaprogrammemergedwith the remainingeducationalprogrammesorindependent youth and non-formal learning programmes,will determine a lot for thefutureattheEuropeanlevel.

JanezŠkuljDirectorInstituteMOVITSloveniannationalagencyoftheYouthinActionprogramme

The opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and might not reflect the position or views of the National agency or any other institutions involved in the implementation of the YiA programme.

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Outcomesofthe“YouthWork:EnhancingYouthEmployability?”seminarReport ArticleAuthor: Tadej Beočanin

Thisarticleissummaryofalloutcomesoftheseminar.Itsmainideaistoprovidethefinal conclusionsagreedby thegroupofparticipantswhoattended theseminar. It isdoneinawaythatanyreadercansimplycarryonwardfromtheseresults.Allinformationinthearticleisbasedonthetrainers'report.

ObstaclesforyouthemploymentParticipantsdividedobstacles foryouthemployment inEurope intonineareas.Somehavebeenidentifiedasmoreseriousthanothers;however,youngpeoplearefacedwithallofthem:

Obstacles area Obstacles young people faceQualification and education

• Havingskillslabourmarketdoesn’tneed• Havingskillseverybodyhas• Havingunrecognizedskills(non-orinformallylearned)• Notgettingbackintoschool(forschooldropouts)• Beingover-qualified

Mobility • Highcostsandexpenditures• Travellinglongdistancestowork• Livinginaruralareadecreasesmobilityoptions• Havingasituationthatdoesnotallowyoungpeopletoleavehome(“Ihaveadog

athome”)Information • Notknowinghoworwheretofindinformationonemploymentissues

• Noaccesstointernet(ruralareas)• Notlookingforinformation(ignorance,nomotivation)• Undiagnosedlearningdisabilities(hardtostudy,getinformationandunderstandit)• Informationoverload(lackofselectingcompetences)• Notenoughinformation• Notknowingthatexposingtoomuchprivateinformationcouldbeanobstaclein

thefuture(embarrassingpicturesinsocialmedia,etc.)• Informationunsuitableforyoungpeople(notintheirstyleorlanguage)

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Obstacles area Obstacles young people faceWork experience • Studentworkdoesn’tcountasworkexperience

• Notenoughrecognitionofvoluntaryworkasworkexperience• Aversiontolower-paidjobs• Waitingfortheperfectjob• Overlyhighexpectationsregarding:salaries,whenlackingexperience• Togetworkyouneedexperience,togetexperienceyouneedtowork(vicious

circle)Economic Situation • Economiccrisis

• Exploitationofyoungpeopleinjobs• Witheconomicgrowth,educationisdevalued• Thepriceofthecurrentcrisisisbeingpaidbyyoungpeople• Highinstabilityinworkingsituations• Financialsituationofyoungpeople• Regulationsonsocialsecurity(paymentstoretirementfunds)

Trust in young people • Toomanystereotypesaboutyoungpeople• Discriminationagainstyoungwomen,becausetheyareexpectedtohaveafamily

andchildren• Youngmenarenotregardedasstableiftheydon’thavefamilyobligations• Foremployers,youngemployeesareirresponsibleandshowlackofexperience• Lackofopenness,teamworkskills,socialskills,simplecommunicationskills,

motivationSoft skills • Lackofself-confidence

• Differentculturalbackgrounds&barriers(habits,language,etc.)• Lackofsupportfromparents• Thecentreofyoungpeoples’livesisoftennotsolidarityandparticipation

Having a life target • Beingoverlyambitious• Youngpeoplearenotwillingtoworkfortheirlifegoal;theywantitimmediately• Youngpeopleoftendon’tthinkfurtherthanaweekormonthahead• Lackofpatience• Havingalifetarget,butnotknowinghowtoreachit• Familyorpeerpressure• Norolemodel,example,support• Employmentonlythroughconnections–lackofmeritocracy

Other • Demographics• Immigration• Toomuchfocusingonproblems,insteadofpossibilities• Unexpectedcrisis,changesincircumstances• Individualism

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Havingtheobstacles,participantsapproachedthepossibilitiesthatyouthworkhastoovercome.

YouthworkanditsroleForthepurposeofthisseminar,participantsusedthedefinitionofyouthworkasstatedintheEUStrategyforYouth(seethesection“AbouttheSeminar”).

Forevenbetterunderstandingofyouthwork,participantsapproachedthefieldofyouthworkfromtheotherside,determiningwhatyouthworkwasnot.Itwasdifficulttoanswer;theymanagedtosharesome ideas: (a)workwhich isnot related toyouth; (b) formaleducation;(c)workdonebyteachers;(d)socialworkinsomecountries(thelastdiffersamongthecooperatingcountries).

Astokeyactivitiesandvaluespromoted in theframeworkofyouthwork,participantsmentionedpersonaldevelopment(achancetodeveloponeself);structure,perspectiveandreflection;supporttoyoungpeople;beingfamiliarwithyoungpeople’sneeds;streetwork; promoting employment opportunities; voluntary work; strength in participation(beinginvolved).

Themaincollectedrolesofyouthworkarethefollowing:• tocreatementorship;• tooffersupportandsafety;• tocontributeforyoungpeopletofindthemselves;• togivespaceandopportunitiestogaincompetences;• tostimulateself-awarenessinyoungpeople;• topromotepersonaldevelopmentandparticipation;• todevelop youngpeople insuchawayas tobeactiveand responsiblecitizensofsociety(activecitizenship);

• tosupportselfinitiativedevelopment,raiseaspirationsandlifegoals;• to empower young people to enable to become responsible individuals and easilyenterthelabourmarket;

• toengageyoungpeopleinpersonalandsocialdevelopmentprogramsandactivities.

Youthwork–ananswertosomeemploymentobstaclesHaving thepreviousparagraph inmind, therearemany rolesof youthwork that canhelpdealwithyouthunemployment.Tobeaspersuasiveaspossible,youthworkshouldanswertheemploymentobstaclesidentifiedinthebeginningofthisarticle.Aworldcaféwasamethodtofindconcretesolutionsyouthworkcanoffertotheidentifiedobstacles:

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Obstacle area Keyword Solutions youth work can offerEconomic situation

General • Youthworkopensone’seyesforopportunities• Youthworkcouldinfluencetheeconomicsituationinthenextdecade

Youngpeoplearepayingforcurrentcrisis

• Youthworkgivescompetencestoyoungpeopleothersdonothave;sotheyaremorequalified

Trust into young people

General • Raisingawarenessofyoungpeople'srights(equalityofyoungwomen,etc.)

• Moreworkpractices,workcampstogiveyoungpeopleexperienceandtoraisetrustofemployers

• Connectingyoungpeopleandemployers(jobmarkets)• Promotingentrepreneurshipofyoungpeople• Introducingprinciplesforgainingemployerstrust

Discriminationagainstyoungwomen

• Raisingawarenessofyoungpeople'srights

Prejudices:beingyoungequalsnotbeingresponsible

• Cooperationbetweenyouthworkandpossibleemployers(workcamps,trainings,etc.)

• OfferinggoodexperiencesMobility Livinginaruralarea • CreatingyouthinformationprojectsintheseareasWork experience

General • Recognitionofexperience• Showingyoungpeoplecantheycando• Increasingmarketingskills• Youthworkerscanlobbypolicymakersontheseproblems

Viciouscircle(Nowork/noexperience)

• Providingpracticalworkingcourseswhennootherpossibilitiesarearound

• Lettersofrecommendationsfromyouthworkersetc.topossibleemployers

• Gainingexperiencethroughdifferentmobilityprograms

Adversityinsomejobs • Offeringtrialsforyoungpeopletocheckoutthejobforsomedays• Motivating(convincingyoungpeopletotakeajobandgettheexperienceratherthannoexperienceatall)

• Workingwiththeindividualstofindoutthereasonswhyhe/shedoesn’twanttodothework

Lackofrecognitionofvoluntarywork

• Trainingyoungpeoplehowtomarkettheirskills/volunteerwork• Doingprojectsthatarevisibleforthecommunity• Havingacampaignaboutyouthwork–increasingitsvisibility(especiallyinprofitsector)

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Qualification and education

Offer(notequal)demand

• Togiveinformationtoyoungpeopleaboutoffersfromlabourmarket

• Tomatchofferswiththecharacteristics/skillsofyoungpersonsSchooldropouts • Preventioninordertounderstandthephenomenonandtooffer

solutions• CooperationbetweenschoolsandNGOs• Tousenon-formaltoolsinformaleducationandrecoveringthiscompetencesgained

Skills • Betterrecognitionandrecordingofcompetencesandskills• Improvingrecognitiontools(Youthpassetc.)• Projectsforgainingskills

Soft skills Lackofsoftskills • Activities,projectsetc.thatpromotethelackofsoftskillsproblem• Givingsoftskillsthroughprojectsandactivities

Importanceoffamilyandrolemodels

• Youthworkersaregoodrolemodelsandleaders

Lackofmotivation • Helpyoungpeopletofindwhatmakesthem“singinsidethemselves”

• Mentorprojects(withsupportpeople)• Make,keepyoungpeopleactive

Life target Youngpeoplearetooambitious,whichcausespressure.

• Toconfrontyoungpeoplewithreality• Toworkwithyoungpeoplesotheywillbeabletomakechoicesbythemselves,standupforthemselvesandtakeresponsibilityfortheiractions

Youngpeopledon’tknowhowtoaccomplishtheirgoals

• Youthworkercanmakesomeplanningwithyoungpeople(introducingstepsetc.)

Noorientation,rolemodels

• Sharingpersonalstoriesandpaths• Talkingaboutyoungpeoples’issues• Organizingworkrelatedeventsandfairs• Helpingyoungpeopletogetworkexperiences:tryingoutdifferentthingsatactualworkplaces

Information Access • Youngpeoplehavethemeansiftheywantto–youthworkincreasesmotivation!

General • Youthworkerprovidesinformationwhereyoungpeopleare(goodaccess)

• Makinginformationmoreunderstandable• Youthworkershouldbebetterinformedaboutpossibilitiesinemploymentsector

• Youthworkercouldcreatebetterpartnershipswithjobcentres...organizingmeetingsandprojectstogether

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Asyoucansee,almostnoneof thestatedsolutionsyouthworkcanaid in facing theemployment obstacles deals with getting competences in youth work projects andactivities. Thehigher competencesof youngpeople involved in youthworkare takenforgranted(seearticle“YouthUnemploymentintheEU”),sothegroupofparticipantsfocusedonsomeconcreteothermeasuresyouthworkcanofferforhigheremploymentofyoungpeople.

RecognitionofyouthworkanditsimpactstohigheremploymentofyoungpeopleIfyouthworkistobemorerecognisedforitsvalueinyouthemploymentinthefuture,itwillneedclearpresentationsofitsresults.However,theseresultswillnotbeclear,ifdifferentactors(meaninggovernmentalandnongovernmentalorganizationsworkinginthefieldofyoutheducation)donotbuildbridgesbetweenthem–notonlybetweenthem,alsobetweendifferentsectors(cross-sectoralcommunication),betweenpolicymakers,institutions,NGOs,universitiesandsoon.

Thisrecognitionmightalsohavenegativeeffects.Youthworkwillhavetobecomemoreprofessionalized,whichwillincreaseitscostsandmakeitmorebureaucratic.However,ifrecognized,youthworkwillbemoresupportedbygovernmentsandotherpeople,whichcandecreasethesenegativesideeffects.Still,therearemanypositiveeffectsaswell:more cooperationanddebatewith civil societywill be established; youngpeoplewillhaveagreaterchancetoinfluencesociety(participation)andwillfeelmoresecure.

Oneofthechallengesforyouthworkishowtomeasureitsimpacts–participantsagreedthatquiteafeweffectsofyouthworkcannotbemeasured(suchasfeelings,changesinsocialdevelopment,etc.).Seechangesinpeople(asagroup)goingthroughyouthworkwouldhelp,butthatcannotbeeasilydone.Eachofthemhasitsownstoryandthatiswhyoneofthewaysofshowingtheimpactsofyouthworkistopresenttheirstories.Thatiswhatparticipantsdidintheseminar–someofthestoriesareinthenextchapter.

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Storiesofsuccess

Oneoftheaimsoftheseminarwastocollectinterestingstoriesthatcouldshowsomeimpactsofyouthwork.Wehaveselectedsomeofthemforpublishinginthisbooklet.Wehopethattheywillinspirefurtherstoriesofsuccessandgivesomerecognitiontoyouthworkanditsimpactsforhigheremploymentlevelsofyoungpeople.

Alex is a 21-year-old youngman, who hasn’t had any kind of work experience sincefinishinghisbasiccompulsoryeducationattheageof19.Normally,itisfinishedbythetimeoneturns16,butduetoalong-termillnessAlexhadtobeindividuallytutoredinhospitalinsteadofattendingnormalschool.Inhospital,hisgradeswentupbecauseoftheindividualteachingandsupport.

ThingsathomewereneverquiteokayandAlexwasn’thappy.Thefinancialsituationathomewasneveranythingtobeproudofand insteadofmotivatingAlex, thesituationmadehimmoredesperate.

Not really interested in studying,hequithighschoolbeforefinishinghis secondyearandbeganspendingtimewithhisfriendsandpartying.Eventually,herealizedhehadhadenoughandhadtostartdoingsomethingwithhislife.Alexwenttotheemploymentagency,butsoonrealizedthatitisverydifficultforhimtofindajob,sincehewasalready21-yearsoldandhadnoexperiencewhatsoever.Heexpressedhisinterestindoingyouthwork–sincehehadreceivedalotofsupportfromyouthworkerswhenhewasyounger.

TheemploymentagencygaveAlexatelephonenumberandhecametometoseeifhecouldgetsometraininginyouthwork.Wefoundaninterestingplacementforamonth–onlyamonthtoseeifhewasupforitandifeverythingwouldgoalright.Everybodywassohappywithhisworkthattheywantedhimtostayfortherestoftheyear.Healsoappliedforschoolandwantstostudytobecomeayouthworker.Heismotivated,reliableandahardworker.Withsupportandguidance,hewillgetintoschoolandbecomeagreatyouthworker.

Alex’sstoryAuthor: Tiia Rantanen, Youth Department of Helsinki

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Delfinais23-years-oldandthesinglemotherofhersonLuna,agedthreeyears.

WhenDelfinawasgrowingup,herfather lefthermotherandshebecamedepressed,which had an impact on Delfina and her little sister. Delfina became a tough youngwomanwhothoughtshedidn’tneedanyone.Shemovedtoanothercountrytobeonherown,andmakeherdreamscometrue.

Shefoundajob,ahouse,metaniceguy,feltinloveandgotpregnant.

However,assoonasshetoldherboyfriendshewaspregnant,theproblemsbegan.Theproblemsbecameworseandherboyfriendlefther,anddidn’tcomeback. Itwas justDelfina,allonherownwithhernew-bornson.Shehadno friends,becauseshehadalwaysbeenwithher(ex)boyfriendanddidn’tcareaboutanybodyelse.

Delfinabecameastay-at-homemom,becauseshecouldn’taffordchildcare;therewerenoparentsorfriendswhocouldhelptakecareofthebaby.Delfinawasalwaysathome,dayin,dayout,andbecameincreasinglydepressed.Thebillskeptcomingin,buttherewasnomoney topay them.Shehad to leaveherhouseandmove intoanot-so-niceneighbourhood,withherson.

Delfinafeltasifshewasnomorethanabadmother.Shefeltshewasjustamotherandnolongerayounggirlwholikedtohangoutwithfriendsorliveherdreams.

Delfina couldn’t support herself anymore and gotwelfare. In Emmen,wewant to helppeoplebecomeself-supporting,sowetrytohelpyoungpeopletogetajob,ortogobacktoschool,sotheycangetadegree.InDelfina’scase,thiswasnotanoption,sinceshefeltwasdepressedandhadayoungson.That’swhereIcamein.Italkedwithherandgottoknowher.Italkedwithheraboutherlife,herdreamsandherlifegoals.Shetoldmeshedidn’thaveanyanymore;shetoldmeshewasjustamotherandnolongerayoungwoman.

Ashercoach,Iconfrontedherwithherselfandthewayshelookedatherself.Wedidsomeexercisesaboutwhosheis,howsheseesherselfandhowshewantstoseeherself.Afterafewweeks,Delfinachanged.Shewasmoreandmoreopenandlearnedtoseeherselfasayoungwomanagain.WedevelopedsomelifegoalsandDelfinacoulddreamagain.Hermoodchanged,shedidn’tfeeldepressedanymoreandwantedtoworkonherfuture:thefutureofDelfina,themother,butalsothefutureofDelfina,theyoungwoman.

Togetherwearrangedherfinances;Itaughtherhowtoarrangethepracticalaspectsofherlife;shegotchildsupportandDelfinastartedattendingayoungmothersgroupandmadesomefriendsalready.Twoweeksago,shealsostartedwithacookingclassandinSeptemberthisyearsheisgoingbacktoschool.

Delfinaisn’tthereyet,butshehasmadealotofprogress.Shenowknowshowtocombinemotherhoodwithtakingcareofherselfandenjoyinglife.

Delfina’sstoryAuthor: Iris Wessels, Welzijngroep Sedna

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Goran is young volunteer in our Don Bosco Youth Center, in Maribor. He is tutoringmathematicsto12-year-oldgirl,infostercare.Whenhetookthisassignment,healreadyhadajob,buthehadn’treceivedapaycheckinoverfourmonths.Eventhoughhedidn’thaveplentyofmoneyhimselfandhehadtodrivefromsuburbstogivehislessons,hegladlyofferedhelptothisgirlinneed.Hislovemovedme,andIcouldn’tstoptellingthisstorytootherpeople.Fortunately,therightpersonlistenedandofferedGoranagoodjobinagoodfirmforverynicesalary,becausehewantedtohaveapersonwiththesevaluesonhisteam.GoranisstartinghisnewjobinMay.

MariaisayoungwomanfromFinland.Beforeherexchangeyear,shewasanaveragestudentwithaveragegrades,andshedidn’twanttoparticipateinanyextracurricularactivities.Whenshewas17,shewenttotheUSAasanexchangestudentandspentayearthereinahostfamily,attendingthelocalhighschoolandadjustingtotheAmericanwayoflife.Sometimes,shejustwantedtogiveupandgobackhometoFinland,becauseitwasnotalwayseasy;intheendshemadeit.

AfterreturningtoFinlandherfamily,friendsandteachersnoticedapositivechangeinher:shehadgainedgreattrustinherselfandherabilities,andawiderunderstandingoftheworldandpeople.Mariawasanactivememberofherschool’sstudentcouncilandstartedtoleadaclubforkids.ShealsostartedvolunteeringforYFU,herexchangeorganization.Aftergraduatingfromhighschool,sheenteredauniversity.Whilethere,shewasanactivevolunteerforYFUandparticipatedinvariousseminarsandtrainingsinFinlandandthroughoutEurope.ShealsodidaninternshipintheUnitedStatesthatshefoundwiththehelpofherAmericanhostfamily.Aftergraduation,shelandedareallygoodjob,thankstoherinternationalexperience.

Oskar came to Italy for his EVS. He had already a plan... well, a plan that perhapssomebody elsemade for him! The planwas to go back Finland, after EVS, to study.AttheendofthesixmonthsinItaly,itjusthappened,oneday,thathemetagroupofjugglersduringafestival.Inthefinalweeks,hewaspracticingeveryday,becausehewasattractedbythiskindofactivityandhedecidedtotrytoenteraCircusSchoolinTorino.Aftertwoyearsstudyinginthatschool,heisnowaprofessional,doingshowsalloverEuropeasacircusperformer.

Goran’sstory

Maria’sstory

Oskar’sstory

Author: Sanja Obaha Brodnjak, Društvo Salezijanski mladinski center

Author: Tiina Pancy, EEE-YFU

Author: Girolamo Vicenti, Associazione Culturale Link

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Manysuccessstoriescanbefoundamongvocationaltraininggraduates.Afterregistrationinthelabourexchange,apersonwithalowlevelofeducationandwithoutaprofessionisencouragedtotrainforoneandthustoenhancehisorherabilitytocompeteinthelabourmarketortogainself-realizationinhisorherfavouriteactivities.Often,successdependsonsomethingasseeminglysimpleastrainingtheunemployedforajobinterview.Sometimes,clientssimplylackconfidenceandtheyhavesomepsychologicalobstaclesto communicating directlywith a potential employer.Written recommendations are akindofencouragement,andoftenhavegoodresults.

HereisonesuccessstoryoftheYouthJobCentre:a22-year-oldtrainedplumberhadnoworkexperienceandhadbeentryingtofindajobforoverayear.Whenregisteringinthelabourexchange,hewasdirectedtoaconsultantwhoworkswithyouthupto29yearsofage.Duringtheconsultation,itwasdiscoveredthattheyoungmanhadsomeexperienceandskillsininformalwork(hehasbeenprovidingassistanceinthefieldofplumbing),buthedidnotmentionthisinhisCVanddidnottellemployersaboutthis.So,anewCVwaswrittenandhewassenttoatrainingcoursetolearnhowtointroducehimselftoemployers.Hesoonfoundworkasaplumber.

Ania suggested that I accompany her to the training organized by an Italian youthorganization; I was happy to receive the invitation, because I hadwanted to do this.Trainingwasapartofthe"YouthinAction"EuropeanUnionproject,whoseprimarygoalwastheintegrationofyoungpeopleintosociety.

Iwassoononmyway,butafterlandingatFumicinoairportinRome,twothingscameintomymind–"It'ssohothere"and"WhatamIdoinghere?"

Thatsecondquestionwasthemorefrighteningone.Otherscame:"Whyme?","WhatIshoulddo?"andtheworst:"HowIcancommunicatewithothers?"

I thoughtthat IshouldgobackhometoPoland,but Ihad lessmoneytodoso,andIthoughtthatIcouldnotdisappointAniaandthefoundation.SoIcollectedmyselfandgotonthewaytoUmbria,wherethetrainingwastobeheld.

The first impression was very bad – everybody were waiting for us, standing in thedarkness. We began presenting ourselves to the group, but I could not understand

LithuanianSuccessstory

Asia’sletterafter"SocialInclusion"TraininginItaly

Author: Valdas Maksvytis, Lithuanian Labour Exchange under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour

Author: Asia (Deaf Woman from Poland)

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others,because Icouldnotseethemouths,so Icouldnotcommunicate.So Isimplyshookhandsandtoldmynametoeveryone.

Butinthefollowinghours,myfearsandconsternationwerechangingintojoy–IlearnedthatIcancommunicatewiththeforeigners!

And others were positively surprised to see a hard-of-hearing person explaining anddescribingherworld.Itwasverynicethattheyaskeddirectlyaboutthelifeofthehard-of-hearingpeople, the functioningofhearingaidsor implants. Ialso taught themthebasicsofsignlanguage.Andtheytreatedmeasequaltothemselves.Whyshoulditbedifferent?

HowdidIcommunicate?Itwasnotsoeasyatall–Ididnotunderstandeverything.IknowEnglish,butitwasextremelydifficulttolipread–Idonotlipreadforeignlanguages.Theytriedtospeakclearly,andtheydidnotshowanyimpatience.Ifthecommunicationwasdifficult,wejustresortedtowriting.Therewasnoshameinthis;IusedtodosowhenIwasabroad.

ButIhadmysuccessattherailwaystation–withoutthehelpofanyoneIdiscussedthemoneyreturnattheticketcounter.SoIcansaythatifyouarenotafraid,youwillmanagetotalkwitheverybodyinanycircumstance!Itdoesnotmatterwhetheritwillbewithyourvoice,gesturesorwriting.Donotbeafraid!Peopleareamazing!

Tosummarize:althoughitwasnotmyfirstjourneyabroad,ittaughtmethemost.Ihadtospendnotafewminutesorhours,butafewdayswithforeigners.IlearnedthatIcouldcopewithit.Iseemyselfmoreasconfidentnow,andIhavemanynewideasformyfuture.

Istudygeography,whichcanbeassociatedwithtrips,butIhadthoughtthatIcouldnottravel"seriously",thatIcanonlyvisitthemonuments,butnowIknow,Icanbepartoftheinternationalcommunity–Icancommunicatewitheverybody!

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Author: Girolamo Vicenti, Associazione Culturale LinkLinkhasneverorganizedaprojectwiththespecificaimofenhancingemployability.Inour

experience,anyproject,evenifthereisnotaclearlysetaimtodoso,createsopportunitiesforyoungpeopletobetterknowthemselves,theirlimits,theirpotential,theirfearsandtheirdreams.YouthinActionprojects,especiallyEVS(EuropeanVoluntaryService),areagreatopportunityforyoungpeopletofindtheirplace,gaintheirindependenceandthefreedomtodiscover,experimentandlearnnewthings.Theycanunderstandwhattheycando,whattheylikeandwhattheydonot;theycanfindnew(oftenquiteunexpected)paths, theycangrowandopen theirmind inmanydifferentways (professionallyandpersonally).Theapproach,fromahostingorganization'spointofview,shouldbebasedonguiding, listeningandgiving youngpeople thepossibilityofexperimentingwithasmany new things as possible. These projects are about learning, and inmany casesaboutlearninghowtodiscoverthecompetencesandattitudesthatyoungpeoplemayhavebuttheystillcannotsee.Inover10years'experienceinEVSandotherYiAprojects,we can count many cases in which EVS has totally changed the perspective of thevolunteer–casesinwhichtheyhavefound,thankstothevolunteeringabroad,thepathtoemployabilityor,atleast,towhattheyreallywantedtodointheirlives.

Toconcludewith:Discover,Experiment,Learn

Birgitisa23-year-oldAustrian.Whenshewas20,afterfinishinghighschool,shewentto Italy for an EVS experience. She spent sixmonths discovering, experimenting andlearningnewskills.Shetriedallsortsofnewsituationsanddidherbesttoexplorenewsituationsasmuchaspossible.Sheexperimentedwithworkingwithyoungpeoplewithfeweropportunities,discoveredshewas talented indoingmany things in thefieldofyouthwork,andshe learnthowtodealwithadifferentculture,anew language,anddifferentwaysofthinking.

AttheendofherEVS,shehadthefeelingshehadstillsomethingtodiscover,experimentandlearn,soshedecidedtostaylonger.

The hosting organization thought it was a good opportunity to have Birgit inside theorganization,notasavolunteerbutasayouthworker,sotheydecidedtooffertoherajob.

NowBirgit isemployedinthesameorganization.This isagoodexampleofhow,non-formallearningandYouthinActionprojectscanenhanceemployability.

Birgit’sstoryAuthor: Girolamo Vicenti, Associazione Culturale Link

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Appendicies

27th April 28th April 29th April 30th April

9:00

Arrivals

OfficialOpening(9:30)

Tinkara Bizjak Zupanc,NASlovenia

MinisterofEducationandSportoftheRepublicofSlovenia,Igor Lukšič

StrategiesinEUtoenhanceyouthemployment,Tadej Beočanin

SharingsuccessfulStories

Findingyouthworkanswerstotheobstacles Departures

GettingtoKnowEachOther

Identifyingobstaclestobecomeemployed2011inEurope

ContributionofYouthWorkforYouth

Employability

12:30 Lunch

14:30WallofOrganisations

SharingBestPractices

BuildinglinksforachievingYouthEmployability

WhatisYouthWork?

ReflectionabouttheDay

Evaluation&Closing

19:30 Dinner

Informalwelcoming

DinneroutShorttourofLjubljana

InformalfarewelleveninginLjubljana

Programme of the seminar32

Country First name Last name Organisation

PARTICIPANTS

Estonia Janne Kuusmik Kohtla-NõmmeNoortekeskus

Estonia Siim Krusell NGOMõnusTegu

Estonia Pirjo Turk CentreforPolicyStudiesPRAXIS

Finland Tiina Pancy EEE-YFU

Finland Tiia Rantanen YouthDepartmentofHelsinki

France Stephanie Fauvarque eurocircle

France Fabienne Lorelle ADICE

Italy Massimo Fotino DIAGONALASSOCIATION

Lithuania Valdas Maksvytis LithuanianLabourExchangeundertheMinistryofSocialSecurityandLabour

Lithuania Ligita Poskaite DepartmentOfYouthAffairs

Lithuania Elzbieta Rapčevič VilniusdioceseCaritas

Netherlands Iris Wessels WelzijngroepSedna

Poland Aleksander Zabłocki ITAKA–CentreforMissingPeople

Poland Magdalena Gajdzinska FoundationforSocialInitiatives

Poland DorotaAnna Milke ECHO-PolishFoundationforChildrenwithHearingDisorders

Slovenia Rudi Klainšek UniversityofMaribor

Slovenia Sanja ObahaBrodnjak DruštvoSalezijanskimladinskicenter

Slovenia Gregor Jevšček RICBelakrajina

Sweden Karin Nejdmo Vänersborgskommun,Arbetsmarkandesenheten

Sweden José Hernández Vänersborgkommun

UnitedKingdom

Aziz Choudhury EnsignYouth&Communitycentre

TRAINERS

Germany Ansgar Büter-Menke

Portugal Andreia Henriques

Slovenia Matej Cepin

List of participants

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The seminar was co-organized by:

Besides theNationalAgencyof theYouth inActionProgramme InstituteMOVITalsohosts:

EURODESK EurodeskisapermanentsupportstructureforEuropeanyouthworkaspartoftheYouthinActionProgramme.ItoperatesasaEuropeaninformationnetworkdedicatedtoprovidingEuropeaninformationforyoungpeopleandtothose,workingwithyoungpeople.EurodeskoffersdailyfreshinformationonEuropeanopportunitiesforyoungpeopleandinformationonEuropeanyouthpolicy. If youneed support at searchingEuropean information foryoungpeopleorinternationalpartnersforYouthinActionprojects,youcanalwayscontactEurodesk.

SALTO-YOUTH SEE RESOURCE CENTRE TheSALTO-YOUTHSouthEastEuropeResourceCentrewassetupin2003topromotetheparticipationofyoungpeopleandotheractorsinthefieldofyouthandnon-formaleducationfromSouthEastEuropeintheYouthinActionProgramme.ItactsasasupportserviceforthenetworkofYouthinActionNationalAgenciesinthefieldofco-operationwithSEE,aswellasyouthorganizations,youthleaders,youthworkersandotheractorsinthefieldwhoare interested indevelopingco-operationbetweenProgrammecountriesandNeighbouringPartnerCountriesinSEE.

EUROPE FOR CITIZENS PROGRAMME CONTACT POINTThe Europe for Citizens Programme supports international projects,bringingtogetherpeoplefromlocalcommunitiesacrossEuropetoshareandexchangeexperiences,opinionsandvalues,tolearnfromhistoryandtobuild for the future, fosteringaction, debateand reflection related toEuropeancitizenshipanddemocracy,andencouraginginteractionbetweencitizensandcivilsocietyorganisationsinEurope.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission and Slovenian, Italian, Portuguese, Estonian, Finish, Polish and Swedish national authorities responsible for youth.This publication reflects the views of only the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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