Youth work enables transformative educational experiences by combining personal development, social interaction, and cultural engagement. It creates spaces for participation, self-realisation, and social responsibility, allowing young people to gain formative experiences that shape their personal growth and empower them to contribute to society.
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Being self-efficacious
Youth work goes far beyond mere leisure activities. It enables young people to actively participate in everyday practices that can be understood as processes of making the world their own. These create spaces for social, cultural, and personal learning, as well as for new experiences of self-efficacy.
- Organising projects
- Designing group spaces
- Taking on responsibility
Discussing values and sharing knowledge
Through projects, social interactions, and dialogue, young people engage with their self-image as well as with worldviews, politics, social norms, and societal discourses. Specialists support this educational process, creating spaces for critical thinking and democratic participation.
Developing freely
Youth work creates open spaces where young people can express themselves, grow without judgement, and engage in performative actions. This is reflected in the active shaping of social and cultural spaces, such as cooking together, making music, or working on creative projects. Such activities foster cultural expression and social interaction in an inclusive and appreciative environment.
Acting independently
Youth work practices subject-centred participation, recognizing young people as independent actors who decide for themselves whether and how they want to engage. Deliberate withdrawal and non-participation are also accepted as legitimate courses of action.
- Cooking together
- Making music
“I come to the youth centre…”
“…to meet up with friends… to play with them!”
“…because it’s like my house, my home, but without the problems: no parents, no brother, who annoys me so much all the time… Here I feel at peace.”
Communicative Self-Perception
Young people learn to express their own topics and talk about personal concerns. This strengthens their awareness of their own goals and options for action, both in the short term and with a view towards future career and life plans. Specialists support them in this process.
About the exhibition
This contribution was created as part of the exhibition “Jonk sinn. Momenter vu Jugendkultur“ (Being young. Moments of youth culture) and was developed by researchers from the Centre for Childhood and Youth Research(CCY). The exhibition was curated by Luc Spada, the visual design is the work of Laura Deitz. The scientific communication concept was developed by Moritz Höpner and implemented in collaboration with the researchers at the CCY. The exhibition was created on the initiative of the Service national de la jeunesse (SNJ) as part of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of Europe 2024/2025. The exhibition can be seen at the Mierscher Theatre from 24/02/2025 to 14/07/2025.
