Report - Salto

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Bridges for Recognition | Sketching the Framework - Offi cial Opening
The case demonstrates the efficacy of youth work and the roles played by youth workers in
introducing young people to new – potentially life changing – experiences, and in supporting
them through those experiences.
Linking Further…
Youth and European Social work Forum (YES-Forum) – www.yes-forum.org
European Voluntary Service – www.sosforevs.org or http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/
program/sos/index_en.html
The Challenge of Recognition – Pierre Mairesse, European Commission
Pierre Mairesse began by welcoming everyone and expressing the pleasure that the Commission
had in facilitating this event. He saw the conference as being about the recognition of both the
experiences of young people and the work of youth workers and social workers.
Non Formal Education (NFE) and youth work are taking place in a changing world for young
people: Youth now lasts longer and is less secure than previously; Human rights issues and
volunteering are more to the fore and personal pathways have become more individualised.
NFE is not well understood by politicians; there is concern about the effect it might have on the
formal education sector and one of the challenges for the sector is to demonstrate its benefits
in relation to wider political issues. NFE helps to bridge the gap between school and employment
and to foster inclusion and participation in public life.
The Lisbon Strategy and the Life Long Learning agenda both need to include Youth work and
NFE, but it is not always clear how this should be done. There are issues of language, of image (it
is not seen as “sexy”) and of not being held in high enough regard. But, Pierre Mairesse argued,
youth work is vital for society; “imagine if we stopped – what would be the impact on society,
the economy and young people themselves?”
The white paper “A new impetus for European Youth” suggests that clearer definitions of the
concepts, skills acquired and quality standards are required; that higher regard should be given
to those who get involved and greater recognition given to these activities. In addition, greater
complimentarity should be developed with formal education and training activities.