We set the following objectives: 1) to reduce the gap between the personal and professional needs of youth workers, enabling them to pursue more fulfilling careers 2) to develop innovative approaches (methodologies, digital tools, and practices) for the personal and professional development of the youth workers to serve the youth better, especially the marginalized ones 3) to integrate innovative approaches (like positive psychology, education, and eco-centric development) in the professionalization of youth workers for better services for disadvantaged youth, primarily 4) to increase the ongoing support and lifelong learning for the personal and professional development of the youth workers. To summarize, the project focused on enhancing ongoing support for youth workers, ensuring they continue to grow personally and professionally, promoting lifelong learning, and ultimately contributing to reducing unemployment in the European Union. As youth workers, we understood teachers, mentors, tutors, and managers in companies (1st target group). As a youth, by EC’s definition, young adults aged 18-29 y.o. (2nd t.g.). The 3rd t.g includes other stakeholders: companies, social economy organizations, and local/regional/national authorities
As the consortium of 5 organizations: V-Systems (coordinator, Poland), Europejski Dom Spotkan - Fundacja Nowy Staw (Poland), ASOCIACIJA AKTYVISTAI (Lithuania), V.E.M. srls (Italy), EduPlus - European Centre for Education and Skills Development (Portugal) and EDITC LIMITED (Cyprus), we applied for the Opp4Youth project to address youth workers' challenges in enhancing their competencies and balancing personal and professional improvement. Based on 1) EU’s documents, incl. the common framework for the further development of youth work, the report by the Contact Committee of European Union Supreme Audit Institutions (Apr. 2018), “Youth Work Report”; 2) EUROSTAT stats on the youth unemployment (Jan. 2021) in partner countries, we identified specific needs and existing gaps that were the lack of clear learning opportunities and incomplete training paths. Another challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased youth unemployment, particularly in Italy and Cyprus. So, we decided to support youth workers' personal and professional development to create sustainable impacts on young people by providing them with better tools, training, and clear learning paths to improve their competencies.