Challenges
When evaluating the answers about the biggest challenges, it was concluded that they are mainly related to establishing contact and building supportive relationships of trust between young people and adults. Their lack explains the next big challenges – the lack of motivation of young people to cooperate and the disappointment of specialists about the failed cooperation. It is important for both young people and specialists that they are heard and respected. Acceptance of diversity, otherness and changes in young people is also a challenge for all of us.
Specialists pointed out that a significant challenge is also the suitability and sufficiency of available services for the current needs of young people.
Who can help address the challenges?
Summarizing the results of the discussions, it was found that the issue of cooperation with educational institutions, educators, and school staff is very relevant and unresolved for the participants.
At the same time, the availability/lack of various services was discussed, and it was concluded that the discussion participants had no experience of collaboration and lacked information about the services provided by other colleagues and the opportunities provided to young people.
There was also a need for material support for young people's interests (for example, purchasing equipment for a chosen sport) and for inclusive sports and non-formal education activities that are organized for their own enjoyment and focused on spending time usefully, socializing, rather than competition and achievement.
The need for support permeates the discussions and the collected responses:
- Young people need someone to trust and support in making choices and decisions about their future lives. They want to learn and be inspired by real examples, living stories, not theory.
- Parents need support and education so they can better understand and support their young people.
- In turn, specialists need the support of specialists in other fields in matters where young people's life situations are beyond their competence or create psychological stress that is difficult to cope with alone.
Resources
The forum participants each bring their own life and relationship experiences. This is a great resource, which is also reflected in the participants' answers about what they do well. Among the forum participants are people who are good at building relationships with young people, they are able to adapt, know how to listen, and establish trust. Among the participants are young people who are best acquainted with the perspectives and experiences of their peers, as well as specialists who work with informal methods, go on hikes, understand the needs of young people, and believe in their abilities to succeed in life.
Could it be that the community already has everything it needs to overcome common challenges?
Ideas/initiatives
By collecting ideas provided by forum participants that they would be willing to develop in the local community to address common challenges, a creative workshop was organized on the most popular of them:
- Youth exchange in the local community
- Youth mentors
- School cooperation with the youth center
- Career days, introduction to professions
- Conversation evenings
- Cinema
It is concluded that these ideas are united by the already outlined need for support and cooperation.
After participating in the discussions, the young people also prepared a joint wish for adults (see photo above), which summarized, in their opinion, the most important keywords:
Provide support. Trust. Listen. Be open. Offer an idea, but do not impose. Provide the necessary help. Motivate. Do not impose your own order of things. Do not pay attention to the opinions of others. Take responsibility. Tell the truth. Joint cooperation. Compromise. Young people are people!
At the end of the forum, using digital tools, participants provided answers about the most valuable benefit from the day. These were: cooperation, contacts, co-working, hearing opinions, getting to know people, potential collaborations, common topics, collaboration, youth presentation, meeting colleagues, information, nice day, getting to know each other, listening, good emotions, new methods, new ideas, young people, new friends, colleagues met, different perspectives, adults listened, I got to know other young people, building collaboration, impact assessment, youth opinion, youth voices.
How to build cooperation?
How to give and receive support?
We'll talk about this at the next lab meeting on April 26, 2024!
