Youth work is a wonderful learning setting for democratic practices. Crafting the idea, working out the specifics, developing the logistics, coordinating aspects of it… train us to work in teams, to listen and to understand other people’s perspective and needs, and to reach compromises to achieve a common goal. However, this is often hindered by the presence of someone with specialized knowledge that tends to introduce an element of imbalance in the processes. In the end, organizing logistics, securing funds, navigating the bureaucracy, etc, are complex skills that benefit from experience.
So how can we reconcile the expertise and know-how of these people with the inherent democracy of a youth-led initiative? “Transformative Youth Leadership”, a project cofunded by the European Union (2024-1-ES02-KA220-YOU-000251305) aims to develop strategies to find a harmonious relation between these two key elements of youth work.
At its core, the project aspires to promote more inclusive, open, and democratic leadership practices, enhancing the quality of youth work while inspiring greater active participation and inclusion. Through collaboration, the partners will develop and validate cutting-edge methodologies designed to empower youth and create sustainable, impactful change in their communities.
Key highlights of the project include:
– Research and Analysis: Studying current leadership practices and identifying challenges in the youth sector.
– Methodology Development: Creating, testing, and refining innovative tools for horizontal leadership.
– Capacity Building: Training youth workers and organizational leaders to implement and scale these methodologies.
– Knowledge Sharing: Launching an online platform and disseminating results to strengthen youth work at local, national, and international levels.
By the end of the project, we expect to generate:
– A compendium of good practices in youth leadership.
– An online platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
– Innovative methodologies that enhance inclusivity and participation.
– Stronger connections and impactful networks within the youth work sector.
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