Step back & make room : the role of youth work in formal education settings

Abstract

During the past two years a strategic partnership project, Youth work and learning for life and work, has been undertaken with the aim of developing a non-formal curriculum that can be further developed and replicated on a pan-European level. The partners in the project – which is funded under Key Action 2 of the Erasmus+ programme - Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, YMCA George Williams College and Manor Education and Training Solutions Ltd., respectively represent the public, educational and private sectors. The development and implementation of the non-formal curriculum is now in its final stages. The partners in the project developed it around a youth-centred approach with the aim of involving young people in their own process of development. A structured non-formal methodology which includes various structured learning situations was employed led by youth workers. The Youth.inc programme, operated by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, was the setting for the development and implementation of the non-formal curriculum. Youth.inc is an education and learning programme for “at risk” young people between the ages of 16 and 21 who wish to continue to build on their educational experience and gain more knowledge, values and skills to either enter the labour market or gain qualifications to continue in further education and training. The objectives of the project are premised on the young people’s journey from not being engaged in any form of education, training or employment (NEET) to being full and active participants in society, by way of non-formal/ relational approaches to learning. The project looks to innovate responses that can be deployed and/or adapted across Europe within a non-formal curriculum. In the process of the development of such a non-formal youth work curriculum, the project initiated training in onmanagerial supervision. This will facilitate and promote the establishment of a learning organisation and culture. The project has undertake research into outcomes, including looking at the impact of referral routes. Research also investigated learner destinations/progression. The project sought to address the requirements of the youthpass so that they can be met through non-formal means. Following on the requisite research and training, the nonformal curriculum is now being used with the Level 1 cohort of the Youth.inc programme. Young people participating in the programme have experienced various learning situations such as preparing a lunch, organising a trip and a creativity week, home management, organising an activity for their peers etc. all of which are assessed through worksheets, peer to peer evaluations, self-assessment, and pictorial and youth workers assessment. As a consequence, the skills and competences acquired by young participants include the ability: • to acquire and apply basic general knowledge related to the immediate physical and social environment in which they live and are active in • to understand and follow basic tasks and instructions and be aware of the consequences for both themselves and others and to participate fully and take responsibility for such tasks • to further develop their communication skills within a team/group setting. This publication ‘Step Back and Make Room’ is a record of the development and implementation of the project and as such constitutes its intellectual output. Thanks goes to all the partners and Ms Deborah Bonnici who coordinated the project. [Foreword by Miriam Teuma]