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Step 1
Reflect on your organization and identify the main characteristics that best describe it to people who don’t know you. We suggest using simple wording and short, concise messages. Please keep your descriptions easy to read, as we won’t have hours to go through every organizational detail. :)

Step 2
Use this Padlet to upload information about your organization.
In the Padlet, we have provided some suggested topics that you may find useful when preparing your description.
The deadline to fill out the Padlet is 3 September.

Step 3
Once all descriptions have been uploaded to the Padlet, we will send you an update email and ask you to read them carefully.
We will not have any formal presentations during the Gathering. Instead, we will organize different discussion tables to help us get to know each other better.

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Hellenic Youth Workers Association (HYWA) / Πανελλήνιο Σωματείο Συμβούλων Νέων (Π.Σ.Σ.Ν.) (Panellínio Somatío Symvoúlon Néon)

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Hellenic Youth Workers Association (HYWA) / Πανελλήνιο Σωματείο Συμβούλων Νέων (Π.Σ.Σ.Ν.) (Panellínio Somatío Symvoúlon Néon)

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The Hellenic Youth Workers Association (HYWA) was established in 2017 as a non-governmental and non-profit association of individual youth workers (not of organisations).

The purposes of the HYWA, as described in its Statute, are:

The creation of a recognition and certification framework for professional Youth Work in Greece;

The recognition of the social contribution of both the Youth Work and the profession of the Youth Worker;

To contribute to the development and implementation of a National Greek Strategy for Youth;

The promotion and recognition of Non-Formal and Informal Learning in the field of Youth;

To promote Youth Work in Greek society; and,

To promote scientific research and evidence-based policies in Youth Work.

These purposes are mainly achieved by:

Co-operating with organisations, stakeholders and other actors that recognise and support the purposes of the HYWA;

Participating in national, European and international alliances, unions and/ or federations with similar purposes;

Improving the Youth Work services provided to young people in Greece, through training, exchange of good practices, continuous information, and networking;

Establishing an Observatory for Research and Assessment of Youth Policies and Youth Work Impact in Greece;

Creating a Registry of Youth Workers in Greece; and,

Co-operating with various competent governmental agencies for the creation of a Training Framework for Youth Workers in Greece.

The HYWA is a founding member of the Alliance of Youth Workers Associations (AYWA).

For more info, please, visit our:

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/youthworkgreece/

HYWA website (temporarily available only in Greek, English version under construction):

https://youthwork.gr/

or, contact us via email at:

info@youthwork.gr .

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National Association of Youth Workers - NAPOR, Serbia

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National Association of Youth Workers - NAPOR, Serbia

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NAPOR was founded in 2009, as a result of an initiative of civil society organizations, which implement youth work. They recognized the need for quality assurance of youth work programs, the need to standardize, professionalize and recognize youth work by youth, institutions which work with youth, the state and society as a whole. Since 2022, NAPOR also introduced individual membership for youth workers and youth leaders.

Goals:

The goals of NAPOR are:

To improve the position of young people in society;

To enhance systemic care for youth;

To ensure and improve a safe environment and opportunities for personal and social development of young people;

To professionalize youth work;

To define new occupations in the field of youth work;

To define standards of youth work and introduce them into practice;

To establish criteria for competencies of youth workers;

To encourage networking and exchange of knowledge and practices among associations implementing youth work.

Membership:

Membership in NAPOR may be granted to registered associations as well as individual youth workers operating within the territory of the Republic of Serbia. NAPOR embraces 39 organizations of youth and for youth which implement youth work throughout Serbia and 39 individual members (gathered in the body called – the Professional Caucus of Youth Workers -SKOR). All member organizations have representative in General Assembly of the association, which takes place at least once a year. The Assembly elects’ members of Steering and Supervisory Board, as well as Council for Ethical Issues. Steering Board names Executive Director, who manages NAPOR Secretariat.

Structure:

Steering Board has 7 members and manages the association in between two Assembly meetings, organizes regular activities and implementation of the strategic and action plan of NAPOR.

Executive Director executes plans and programs that Assembly and Steering Board decided upon, selects employees and manages Secretariat of NAPOR.

Supervisory Board has 3 members and has a role of supervising the legitimacy of work of all association’s bodies, as well as of financial management of NAPOR’s assets.

Council for Ethical Issues has 5 members who ensure support to youth workers in terms of ethical issues.

Currently, there are 7 employed people in Secretariat:

1 executive director

1 Manager for finances and administration

1 Manager for advocacy and communication

3 program coordinators

1 coordinator for communication

Major achievements

Fostering democratic values and using participatory approach and role of intermediary organization, NAPOR had ran national consultative processes which apart from youth workers and youth leaders gathered representatives of national institutions, Ministries, Universities, international organizations (UNICEF, British Council, USAID -SLDP, Open Society Institute, GIZ, ILO, UNFPA, etc.). These efforts made significant contributions in the following program areas of NAPOR:

NAPOR for professionalism

✓ Developed 3 vocational standards in area of professional non-formal education (1. Youth leader, 2. Youth worker; 3. Specialist for youth work and policies) that are included in National Vocational Qualification system;

✓ Developed non-formal education curricula for two vocational standards in area of professional youth work through which NFE providers gain standardized professional competencies to be able to make greater impact on youth empowerment.

✓ Developed mechanism for validation of previously attained competencies for two-vocational standards for youth workers.

✓ Formed a pool of licensed organization and trainers for delivery of multi-modular trainings for non-formal education vocational standards and a pool of mentors for validation of previously attained competencies.

✓ 173 representative of youth organizations and youth offices gained NAPOR certificates for vocational standards: Youth Work coordinator and Youth activist (+25 currently in process).

NAPOR for quality

✓ Developed standards for youth work programs and a mechanism for its implementation that ensures quality provision of youth work programs.

✓ Formed an expert pool of 16 assessors that license organizations to practice youth work according to the NAPOR standards.

✓ 62 organization are (re)accredited for delivery of NFE programs according to defined NAPOR standards.

NAPOR for Ethics

✓ Developed a Code of Ethics for Youth Workers (signed by NAPOR member organizations) and formed a National Council for Ethical Issues in youth work, ensuring safe environment for young people’s professional development.

NAPOR for recognition

✓ NAPOR has participated in the core working groups for the creation of the Law on Youth, National Youth Strategies, Action Plans for implementation of National Youth Strategies in Serbia. Thanks to NAPOR lobbying, youth work gained its first legal recognition in Serbia.

✓Currently NAPOR leads process of acquiring qualification standards for youth workers- levels V and VII of the NQF.

Main programs:

1. Education of youth workers and youth leaders

2. Quality assurance of the youth work programs

3. Ethics in youth work

4. Advocacy initiatives related to the youth work recognition

Room for development:

Management of the association

Management of the members and its expertise

Building knowledge base

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NORMA – National Organisation of Youth Workers in Croatia

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NORMA – National Organisation of Youth Workers in Croatia

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About us
NORMA – Nacionalna organizacija radnica s mladima (National Organisation of Youth Workers) is the umbrella body representing youth workers in Croatia. Established in 2025, our mission is to strengthen the recognition, quality, and visibility of youth work by supporting practitioners, fostering professionalisation, and advocating for the role of youth work in society.

Main Objectives

Advocate for the formal recognition and professionalisation of youth work in Croatia.

Support the continuous development and education of youth workers.

Unite practitioners, organisations, and stakeholders into a strong national network.

Strengthen cooperation with European and global organisations in the youth field.

Promote the values of inclusion, solidarity, democracy, and active citizenship.

Our Structure
NORMA is a membership-based organisation open exclusively to individual youth workers. Its governance is defined through the General Assembly (all members), the Board, and the President, ensuring democratic decision-making and transparent leadership.

Activities and Services

Capacity building: Training programmes, seminars, and resources to enhance youth workers’ competences.

Networking: Creating spaces for exchange, peer support, and cooperation among youth workers across Croatia.

Advocacy: Representing the interests of youth workers in national and international policy discussions.

Professionalisation: Developing frameworks and recommendations to advance the quality and recognition of youth work.

International cooperation: Engaging in European projects and networks to share knowledge and good practices.

Recognition
NORMA is recognised by youth workers in Croatia as the first national umbrella body dedicated exclusively to the profession. It actively works on building cooperation with ministries and public institutions to integrate youth work into national policy frameworks. (slowley, step-by-step)

Achievements so far

Establishing NORMA in 2025 as the first national platform uniting youth workers in Croatia.

Launching advocacy initiatives to increase visibility and recognition of youth work.

Attracting the first generation of individual members from across Croatia.

First steps in engaging with European and regional youth work networks.

Room for Development
As a young organisation, NORMA is still growing. Key priorities include:

Strengthening financial and institutional sustainability.

Expanding membership and geographic coverage across Croatia.

Deepening recognition of youth work within national institutions.

Developing comprehensive training programmes and resources.

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UPOR CG - Association of Youth Workers in Montenegro 

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UPOR CG - Association of Youth Workers in Montenegro 

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UPOR CG is a professional association established to enhance the quality and recognition of youth work in Montenegro. Officially registered on December 31, 2024, UPOR CG was founded by experienced youth workers engaging with young people, policies, research and education across sectors.

UPOR’s members bring extensive experience in supporting youth engagement and participation, through youth policy development, advocacy, innovation and tools development at national and international levels.

Vision - a society that recognizes and values youth work as a legally acknowledged and regulated profession, in which youth workers actively contribute to the empowerment of young people, their development, and social cohesion.

Mission - to bring together youth work practitioners in Montenegro with the aim of standardizing and institutionalizing their work, strengthening their capacities for active participation in the creation and implementation of youth policies, and building a community based on solidarity, respect, and equal opportunities for all. In this community, youth work practitioners are recognized as key actors in advocating for the rights and interests of young people.

UPOR's activities will be primarily focused on:

Raising awareness of the importance of youth work and promoting equal opportunities for all young people;

Strengthening the role of youth work practitioners as social partners in the development and implementation of youth policies at the local, national, regional, European, and global levels;

Advocating for the legal recognition and formalization of the profession of youth worker, as well as the development of a licensing and accreditation system for youth workers;

Establishing standards and criteria for the quality of youth work;

Enhancing the competencies of youth work practitioners through the organization of free training sessions, seminars, and professional development programs;

Establishing cooperation with youth workers and organizations with shared objectives at all levels to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices;

Developing and promoting innovative approaches to working with young people, based on relevant research and proven practices;

Providing free legal, logistical, and professional support to the members of the Association, and improving the efficiency and quality of their work through the development of specialized resources and tools;

Monitoring and assessing the quality of youth work through research, monitoring, and evaluation of existing practices, along with the development of recommendations and guidelines for their improvement.

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The Estonian Association of Youth Workers unites professional paid youth workers and youth work volunteers.

The Association is open to qualified Youth Workers or who are in the middle of Youth Work studies as well as those without formal qualifications but with extensive youth work experience. The organisation is run by the Board of Management which is elected by its members in every three years at the Annual General Meeting.

https://enk.ee/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/enk_voldik_A4_eng.pdf

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Armenian Association of Youth Workers is an informal group (initiative group), currently composed of up to 10 individuals that are all leaders in prominent youth work organisations in Armenia.

The main aims are:

Professional recognition of youth work and youth workers;

A collective voice for the youth workers community in the national and European platforms;

Capacity building and exchange among youth workers;

Development of the professional youth work ecosystem in Armenia.

The structure and membership are not yet defined - we hope learning about others' experience will help us decide on the most effective Management and membership structures.

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The GYIÖT (Federation of Children and Youth Councils) was established in 1996 to support and professionally represent local youth councils and organisations engaged in youth advocacy. Over the years, our mission has expanded to include strengthening youth work, increasing its visibility and and fostering cooperation among key stakeholders.

Our activities focus on three main areas

- gaining a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of youth work, and in particular the situation of youth workers, through research, local development processes and other means;

- implementing development processes/projects that respond to identified problems/needs (training, tool-developments, local projects, international cooperation, etc.); and

- lobbying, communication and other activities to increase the visibility and recognition of youth work.

We currently have a team of five people and if all goes well, you will meet all of them during your stay in Budapest, either for a longer or shorter time :-)

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BVJong  is the Dutch national organization for professional youth workers

The organization aims to represent the interests of these workers and collaborate with national organizations and the government.

Core Principles and Goals

Bottom-up Approach: BVjong is quick to respond to the needs of workers and issues that affect young people. It is also focused on development, just like the work of youth and children's services itself.

Professionalization: The organization works to improve the quality and image of the profession through professional registration and a code of ethics.

Networking and Events: BVjong organizes video sessions, conferences, international study days, and exchanges. They also have a large network of youth and children's workers⁷.

There are approximately 2,000 workers in the 'jongerenwerk/1sociaal domein' channel.

There are also national app groups for youth workers, with about 700 workers in total

These include four regional app groups (North, East, South, and West)

One app group is specifically for children's workers, with around 40 members.

BVjong also has a large reach on LinkedIn, with about 2,500 followers.

Advocacy and Collaboration: The organization advocates on behalf of its members and collaborates with various national organizations, including:

Sociaal Werk Nederland

Nji

Movisie

KIS

Youth Spot, for research

Professional associations for youth care, like BPSW

Support Services

BVjong also offers a variety of support activities¹⁹, such as:

A help desk with Registerplein

Referrals for training

A consultation hour for individual worker questions

Expert teams

BVjong has developed a competence profile for youth workers, organises the annual conference activities for youth workers (this year in the form of a festival) and is involved in the governmental discussion group on adapting the national youth care policy.

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BVjong is the professional association for child and youth workers in the Netherlands. Our mission is to represent the interests of youth workers and to collaborate with national organizations and the government. In addition, we support professionals in strengthening their expertise and in gaining recognition for the profession.

Core principles and objectives

Community and bottom-up approach: BVjong responds quickly to the needs of child and youth workers and to issues that affect young people. Just as in youth and children’s work itself, development is central. We facilitate this through WhatsApp groups, an online platform, and regular meetings. Thanks to this active community, youth workers can support one another by asking questions, sharing knowledge, and exchanging experiences.

Professionalization: We work to improve both the quality and the image of the profession through professional registration and an ethical code. Together with the sector association, we lead the strategic council, which develops a multi-year plan inspired by the European youth agenda.

Networking and events: BVjong organizes intervision sessions, video meetings, conferences, study days, and international exchanges. Our network is extensive: around 2,000 professionals are active in the “youth work/1 social domain” channel. In addition, there are national app groups with about 700 child and youth workers, divided into four regional groups (North, East, South, and West). There is also a separate group for children’s workers with around 40 members. On LinkedIn, BVjong reaches over 2,500 followers.

Advocacy and collaboration

BVjong represents the interests of its members and collaborates with various national organizations, including Sociaal Werk Nederland, the Dutch Youth Institute (NJi), Movisie, KIS, Youth Spot (for research), and professional associations in youth care such as the BPSW.

Support services and impact

In addition to advocacy, BVjong provides practical support such as a helpdesk in cooperation with Registerplein, referrals to training programs, consultation hours for individual questions, and expert teams. We also developed a national competence profile for youth workers, organize an annual conference (in 2024 in the form of a festival), and contribute to the government’s discussion group on the revision of national youth care policy.

Opportunities BVjong sees opportunities for further development in strengthening its financial sustainability and building a solid organizational foundation. This will help prevent too much work and responsibility from resting on the same people and ensure greater continuity and stability within the association.

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NINFEA is a national association of youth workers and professionals in the field of youth work, recognized by the Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) as a professional organization and included in the official register of Professional Associations related to professions not organized in orders or professional chambers.

NINFEA aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of practitioners working in the social, cultural, educational, and informational fields, engaged in informal and non-formal education (at local, national, and international levels), in all its various expressions and specialized branches, both in the public and private sectors. Furthermore, it seeks to contribute to the regulation in Italy of the above-mentioned professions within a system of free competition, in compliance with European Union legislation and national laws.

In addition, NINFEA carries out scientific activities, social interventions, and pedagogical-educational research to support the professional development of youth workers, youth trainers, and socio-educational animators.

It promotes studies, research, experimental activities in youth work and training, both independently and in collaboration with third-sector bodies and public or private entities at national, European, and international levels.

To foster the recognition of youth workers’ competences and ensure the quality of their work, NINFEA also promotes the professional development of its members through activities, courses, and training initiatives.