The objectives of the project were to: O1: Enhance the knowledge on the current framework of Youth Work and Digital Youth Work in Cyprus and Romania; O2: Increase the knowledge of the practices used by other countries in recognising Youth Work and Digital Youth Work; O3: Provide recommendations on how recognition of Youth Work and Digital Youth Work can be facilitated; O4: Empower Youth Workers in using digital tools to upgrade the quality of their work with and for youth; O5: Promote valuable free tools developed in the contexts of EU projects for enhancing the digital competences of youth workers.
The project addresses a crucial need that is relevant to both Cyprus and Romania regarding the recognition and development of youth work. Despite different national contexts, both countries face significant gaps in defining, structuring, and formally recognising youth work as a profession. In Cyprus, the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC) invited, in 2019, the Advisory Mission Delegation of the Council of Europe, to provide recommendations for action towards recognising Youth Work. While a working group was formed to address these, progress has been limited, and the field of youth work still lacks formal recognition, defined qualifications, and a legal framework. Romania, despite officially recognising youth work in 2012, remains in a similarly underdeveloped state. The existing legal framework provides only a vague definition of youth work, with no substantial implementation in terms of competences, training pathways, or professional validation. Utilising Cyprus and Romania as examples, the FEW4Youth project aimed at increasing the quality, innovation and recognition of youth work and at identifying how it can be enhanced, utilising best practices from countries with an advanced and highly recognisable [Digital] Youth Work field.