Are you a youth worker passionate about creating more inclusive and culturally responsive practices in your field? Do you want to challenge outdated systems and contribute to decolonising youth work? If so, we invite you to apply for our Decolonisation in Youth Work Project — a unique opportunity to reflect on and reshape youth work practices through a decolonial lens.
Our Aim
This project seeks to disrupt those dominant perspectives by offering youth workers the tools to critically reflect on the colonial underpinnings of youth work and develop decolonised strategies for practice. We aim to:
- Challenge the frameworks of othering in both local and international youth work.
- Reflect on the impact of colonialism on youth work and the globalisation of youth work practices.
- Equip youth workers with the skills to apply decolonial approaches to their everyday work, fostering more culturally relevant, inclusive, and adaptive practices.
What to Expect
Throughout the project, you will participate in a series of hands-on workshops that use real-world case studies from Europe and beyond. These sessions will:
- Explore the effects of othering: How migrant youth, particularly from non-Western backgrounds, are marginalized by current knowledge structures and practices in youth work.
- Develop practical strategies: Learn how to address exclusionary practices in youth work and create inclusive programs that reflect the diversity and lived experiences of young people.
- Reflect on your own experiences: As a youth worker, you’ll be encouraged to examine your own practice and the ways colonial perspectives might influence it.
Why You Should Join
- Gain new insights: Engage with decolonial theories and apply them directly to your work in a meaningful, practical way.
- Build connections: Network with other youth workers across Europe who are equally committed to decolonising youth work practices.
- Contribute to change: Be part of a movement that challenges colonial legacies in youth work and helps create more inclusive, culturally responsive approaches.
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for youth workers who:
- Are committed to inclusion and diversity in their work.
- Are open to reflecting on the colonial impact on their practices.
- Want to lead the charge in creating decolonised, adaptive youth work approaches.
If you're ready to rethink youth work through a decolonial lens and empower young people in a way that reflects their cultural and social realities, this project is for you!
Practicalities
- This Training Course is not yet confirmed, we will know for certain if it will take place (or not) in January
- Takes place in Spain
- Working dates are now 25/10 - 1/10, To Be Confirmed
Apply below to show your interest!
Sidenote: Applying does not guarantee your place on the Training Course, but it does give you a better chance as you will be contacted as one of the first to apply, when the project is confirmed.