The concept of contemporary Europe based on modernity, affluence and civic values, such as democracy and respect for human rights, has begun to unravel due to recent economic and socio-political challenges. Along with the awaking political extremism and xenophobia, the idea of unified and interdependent Europe has begun to represent a threat instead of an opportunity for many, especially young people, for whom the crisis has had a multiple effect. The learning programme “Youthful Europe” provides youth workers with a possibility to explore and critically reflect different approaches towards Europe, as well as to discover the potential of European dimension in youth work for the empowerment of young people.

The programme encourages participants to discover answers to the following questions: How do we, and the young people we work with, perceive Europe? What are the realities of young people in different parts of Europe? How are our personal identities and values reflected in the European level? How can we find new and creative ways to practise active citizenship in Europe? Overall, how can we open perspectives for today’s young people -to whom locality and nationality no longer provide a sufficient framework for identity and political agency- to experience Europe as an opportunity for empowerment, and therefore to take an active role in envisaging future Europe? A specific emphasis in the training course is on transferability of methods to address the topic in participants’ local youth work contexts.

The learning programme is an initiative of the Austrian, German and Polish National Agencies for the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme and the three regional SALTO Centres (SEE, EECA and Euromed). It has a long-term perspective consisting of residential training courses implemented semi-annually in the regions of Partner Countries within the Erasmus+ Programme neighbouring the European Union: Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries and Russian Federation and South-Mediterranean countries. The training courses include an e-learning phase prior (four weekly modules) and after (two weekly modules) the residential activity. The e-learning phase enables the participants to reflect and apply their learning directly in their local environment as well as in the international context. Additionally, the learning programme includes the development of an e-learning tool to better enable youth work practitioners to address the topic of Europe with young people. More information on the entire project is available at https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/activities/youthfuleurope/.

Aim and objectives:

The aim of the learning programme is to provide youth work practitioners with a possibility to explore and critically reflect on different approaches towards Europe through three of its constitutive elements: identity, values and active participation and further inspire young people to see Europe as an opportunity.

Objectives:

- to provide the participants with an opportunity to express and review their thoughts and feelings of Europe;
- to discover diverse perceptions on Europe and concrete realities of youth work and young people in European communities;
- to develop insight on personal identity and values and develop understanding on how they are reflected in the European context;
- to deepen the understanding of what means to be an active citizen in Europe and stimulate creative approaches of practising it;
- to discover different approaches of non-formal education towards opening perspectives and supporting young people in using Europe as an opportunity;
- to motivate participants to use the possibilities offered by the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme.

The target group of this activity is youth work practitioners who are:

- working directly with young people;
- interested in the reflection and further learning on the topic of Europe and the empowerment of young people to understand and experience Europe as an opportunity;
- motivated to apply the acquired competences in the local youth work practice;
- able to commit to participate in the entire programme, including the e-learning phase prior and after the training course (see the programme of activities for further information);
- able to work effectively in English;
- over 18 years old;

Source: SALTO-YOUTH