The project sought to increase access to opportunities so as to build capacity while simultaneously identifying educational pathways for those youth workers who would otherwise be blocked from such opportunities due to systemic discriminatory practices. The programme objectives sought: 1. To provide cross national recognition through institutional co-operation at local levels within partner countries in Europe working with migrant and refugee communities. 2. To recognise and validate the achievement of youth workers’ competence evidenced through the achievement of the Youthpass certificate. 3. To provide training and understanding of youth work practice through creative tools to engage and encourage greater participation and involvement in the democratic processes within respective countries in line with the priority of the EU Youth Strategy. 4. To provide an innovative training model of youth work practice which focuses on supporting access to opportunities delivered through mentorship model.
The focus of this project was to look at meeting the needs and concerns of migrant communities through the lens of youth and community professionals across the four cities in scope to the partnership: Amsterdam (NL), Cologne (Germany), Faro (Portugal) and Sassari (Italy). The project sought to address the limited intergenerational youth work practices within the African Diaspora communities in Europe generally while contributing to the professional training of youth workers within partner countries. Migration often enhances cultural diversity, but the reality is that its impact on the social and economic opportunities available is shrouded in challenges of intolerance, discrimination and prejudice. Information about the situation of youth in Europe generally highlight young people facing an increasing challenge unemployment, contracting work-based training opportunities and spiralling costs of living (especially in the housing sector) and low wages. They are also facing increasing levels of obesity as well as falling prey to criminal opportunism, where they may have fewer alternatives (EU Youth Work Report, 2017; 2019).