On behalf of the Generation Europe network, Balint Josa took part in the international conference “Critical youth work? Rethinking and re-imagining conceptual approaches, (un)learning democracy and human rights in times of shrinking and contested civic spaces” in Weimar, Germany. The conference was organised by our network partner EJBW Weimar. This is Balints report of participation.
From 12 to 17 May 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Critical Youth Work conference in Weimar. The conference brought together youth workers, educators, and activists from across Europe, all dedicated to tackling the challenges faced by democratic civil society today. Interestingly parallel to our event, another significant gathering was taking place – the European Academy on Youth Work in Slovenia. Although we were separated by distance, our missions were remarkably aligned, and we sent some supporting messages to each other as well. Both events focused on supporting innovation in youth work and finding ways to react to the rapid changes affecting young people in our societies.
Addressing the Elephants in the Room
One significant role I played while in Weimar was participating in the first panel discussion on the “elephants in the room” – issues that youth workers tend to see, or feel, or have impact on their work, but are hard to find easy solutions, or they are beyond our normal reach, like conflicts and global lockdowns. However usually we also have no time or motivation in us to even look for ways to influence them, but eventually they do have an impact on us or our participants. They included:
- Vision of the solution: The political sphere is widely divided and populism seems to gain a lot of ground, and one major issue is that there is a lack of progressive vision. Even clearly defining the problem is missing, so easy answers to complex problems often echo better among the majority of voters and their children. It is not easy to discuss complex issues, such as migration or inclusion, when we lack workable solutions.
- Inclusivity of underprivileged groups: Youth work has to be more inclusive, representing all young people to ensure their voice is heard and they can take part and lead, not just be tokened for politicians or Civil Society. This also includes the youth worker field and includes a process to refresh the sector.
- Attitude towards Youth Work: We must prove and showcase that youth work is not a mere a past time activity or hobby for youngsters. We have to convince society and decision makers to see it as an integral form of societal development, so the budget cuts don’t necessarily affect us first, and our requests in setting policy agenda might be heard.
My workshop the following day was even more specific. It was about how smear campaigns work and how populist, extremist, discriminatory narratives are built. We discussed how to protect NGOs against this and how to build alternative counter-narratives to fight back against this defamation. In a growing number of countries there is a tendency that human rights activists and legal watchdogs, and even simple and ordinary organisations working on inclusivity are being labelled as foreign agents and are attacked in media, or even legally prosecuted. It is part of the integrity of our work to recognise and combat this smear.
Shared Goals and Synergies
Throughout the conference, it became clear that our goals are deeply interconnected. Whether in Weimar or Slovenia, we are all thriving for the same cause: a more inclusive and supportive environment for youth work. Combining our efforts and learning from each other’s experiences is the key to making significant progress. The discussions in Weimar were vibrant and insightful, with participants sharing innovative approaches and practical solutions. We explored new pedagogical methods and conceptual frameworks to better address the pressing issues facing youth today. I was particularly moved by the stories of young people who, despite facing significant challenges, are making tangible changes in their communities. Their resilience and determination are a testament to the power of youth work.
Looking Ahead
The synergies between our conference in Weimar and the European Academy on Youth Work in Slovenia highlighted the importance of collective action. The network of Generation Europe – The Academy will contribute to this: Plans are already in motion for future gatherings, including the European Youth Work Symposium ‘Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers’, that will take place on 28 October 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. This event will continue to focus on local impact and the need for greater support for youth work structures. Also much of our Lobby Strategy, that we are implementing within the Generation Europe network, is reflecting on this.