GOT NEXT*: Youth workers next in line to make change

Seminar

On a daily basis, many of us do too much and pause too little. Rarely do we get to step back and really check in with ourselves and with each other.  The purpose of this seminar is to slow down together in order to meet the urgent challenges of our youth work. This gathering is an opportunity to have those authentic conversations we may not usually get to have: about the dreams that drive the work we do, the struggles that we move through, and the magic that keeps us going. It is a five day co-created seminar where we invite 22 active youth workers (got next) to reflect, share, get inspired, build community, and create new possibilities.

Objectives

• Creating space for self care (self-reflection, self-awareness, …)
• Exchanging on youth work realities and challenges
• Creating common ground: sharing understandings of the concepts “youth work”, “youth participation”, “social activism”, …
• Creating connections and building community
• Exploring the possibilities for funding for European projects

Approach & format

This seminar focuses on 3 levels of development, exploration and solutions within the field of youth work for and by youth workers from all different working environments. We believe that in order to create a well rounded framework, navigating through the personal, interpersonal and systemic ways of change is a crucial starting point.

• On a personal level, we offer a space to reflect on your own journey and impact as a youth worker.  It is time for you to recharge and to ask meaningful questions, to reset and to gain specific tools for self care and personal growth. 
• On an interpersonal level, we come together to discover common grounds and celebrate differences. We share stories and explore each other’s contexts. We take time for authentic conversations to build bridges and inspire one and another. Our experiences teach us that the more authentic our relationships are, the stronger the foundations for developing future partnerships.
• On a systemic level, we explore the world we are working in and reflect on the challenges that we are facing as youth workers. We learn about the possibilities of the European mobility programs,  we share ideas, tools and project plans. We reflect on what works and what doesn’t work. We inspire and support each other in the hope that every participant leaves the seminar feeling reinforced in their capacity to have a real social impact in their work on a systemic level.

You can expect a blend of diverse non-formal education methods such as facilitated dialogues, individual reflection, teambuilding, games, group work, appreciative inquiry, open space, hanging out (did you know that the most highly rated sessions at many conferences are the coffee breaks?), …  The program will be co-created by the participants and adapted to the concrete needs, challenges and interests of the selected participants. 

Target group

"we got next." It's the three-word ticket to play in street-corner basketball. It means, "Please, may we play the next game when you are through?"
This seminar  will be organized for change makers, working on a daily basis with children and/or young people and who need a pause to reboot, recharge, reflect, reconnect, reevaluate, …

We welcome youth workers who have the ambition or space to take on a bigger role within their organisation/collective/community (future team coaches, coördinators, trainers, project managers) and who are willing to share the reflections and outcomes of the seminar with their youth work tribe.

You need to be able to speak and understand English as it is our working language. We also expect you to be committed to participate actively during the full duration of the seminar. You don’t need to have knowledge about the European mobility programmes. 

In order to create a safe space, we expect participants to be open, willing to share and listen and eager to have their perspectives and practices challenged.

• Does your work engage with youth?
• Do you play an active role in your youth organization / collective / community?
• Do you think there is change needed in the way social work is done?
• Do you think about ways of actively trying to tackle social injustices?
• Do you aspire to create new ways of working?
• Do you need a break to reflect on your aspirations as a youth worker?
• Do you struggle to create the time for it?

Then this international seminar is something for you!