Youth is a particular stage in a person's life course that is often defined as the transitory period between childhood and adulthood. As with all other stages in life, youth presents its own particular opportunities and challenges, through which young people have to navigate to successfully leave childhood and enter into adulthood. Youth work was developed to facilitate these transitions, with youth workers working with and for young people to ensure smooth transitions. This however requires youth workers to possess and be able to use specific sets of competencies. Such competencies in terms of Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge (A.S.K.). In this regard the overarching objective of this project is to increase the understanding of youth as a transitionary period in life between childhood and adulthood and equip youth workers with the right set of competencies to provide a quality youth work service. This project will take on an innovative approach be using artistic and cultural initiatives with an educational dimension to explore societal issues faced by young people and in turn develop the Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge needed by youth workers to provide creative and innovative youth work services. Youth researchers, youth workers and young people will be working together with the creative sector to draw up a set of competencies needed by youth workers and a training programme that will help youth workers garner these competencies as part of their arsenal. The project is divided into 3 phases. During the first phase a group of around 30 creative writers from the three participating countries, and comprised of different age groups from young people to adults and including youth workers will be engaged in creative writing process to depict their own understanding of societal issues that young people face. During the second phase youth researchers and youth workers will engage in a research analysis of all the material developed by the creative writers to produce an understanding of youth as experienced by these writers, highlighting the competencies needed to provide a quality youth work service. During the third and final phase youth researchers and youth workers from the three participating countries will work together to develop a training programme for youth workers who would want to master such competencies.
The primary objective of our project was to enhance the quality and effectiveness of youth work across Malta, Italy, and Slovenia. We aimed to achieve this by developing a comprehensive framework of competencies for youth workers, derived from an innovative analysis of creative writing. By fostering a deeper understanding of youth through diverse cultural perspectives, we sought to equip youth workers with the skills and knowledge needed to address the unique challenges faced by young people today. Additionally, we aimed to promote cross-sectoral collaboration between the creative and youth sectors, facilitating mutual support and shared learning. This collaboration was especially crucial in the wake and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted both sectors. By integrating creative writing and participatory research into youth work training, we intended to create more engaging and impactful methods for youth engagement. Ultimately, the project sought to empower youth workers, enhance the resilience and creativity of the youth sector, and provide meaningful support to both sectors during their recovery.
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ applied for this project to address the need for enhanced youth work competencies and cross-cultural understanding among youth workers in Malta, Italy, and Slovenia. Youth workers often face challenges in engaging effectively with young people from diverse backgrounds, necessitating improved skills and innovative approaches. Additionally, both the creative sector and the youth sector were among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant disruptions and challenges. By leveraging creative writing and participatory research, we aimed to develop a robust framework of competencies tailored to the evolving needs of young people. This project sought to bridge gaps in youth workers training, foster cross-sectoral collaboration, and ultimately enhance the quality and impact of youth work across different cultural contexts. Through this initiative, we also aimed to offer much-needed support to both the creative and youth sectors, helping them recover and thrive in the post-pandemic landscape.