Sustainable Local Youth Work in Eastern Slovakia: Powered by Europe Goes Local and Democracy Reloading

Overview

This three-day study visit will explore local youth work and municipal youth participation in smaller countryside settlements with less privileged young people in eastern Slovakia. Participants will have the opportunity to witness inspiring practices on how to involve diverse young people, co-create programs, and foster community engagement.

Through visits to three municipalities, participants will engage with local stakeholders, experts, and practitioners, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of youth work in rural areas. The study visit will also incorporate tools from Europe Goes Local (EGL) and Democracy Reloading (DR) to enhance participants' understanding and inspire the development of innovative local youth policies.

About Europe Goes Local (EGL) & Democracy Reloading (DR)

Europe Goes Local (EGL) is a European strategic partnership within Erasmus+ Youth, dedicated to strengthening local youth work. It supports municipalities in developing youth work structures aligned with the European Youth Work Agenda.

Democracy Reloading (DR) is a Strategic Partnership within the Erasmus+ Youth program, designed to support local and regional public authorities in planning, developing, maintaining, and reforming democratic youth participation structures for dialogue, co-decision, and co-management. As a result of comprehensive research, a Reference Framework of 24 competencies was developed for municipal authorities. Based on this framework, an online toolkit was created to support the development of these competencies. It is designed to empower municipal staff working in youth policy, equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively engage young people in municipal decision-making—ultimately enhancing active citizenship and democracy in local communities.

While EGL addresses all aspects of local youth work, DR specifically helps municipal authorities foster youth participation in governance. The study visit will integrate both approaches to ensure a high-quality learning experience for participants.

Objectives of the Study Visit

• To provide insights into local youth work and youth participation in remote areas of Slovakia, with a focus on smaller municipalities near Košice.
• To explore achievements, challenges, and effective strategies for working with youth in countryside communities.
• To understand how Europe Goes Local (European Charter of Local Youth Work) and Democracy Reloading (Reference Framework) tools can support reflection and further development of youth work practices.
• To facilitate knowledge-sharing and networking, fostering collaboration between local practitioners and participants to enhance youth work in their respective communities.
• To examine how Erasmus+ (Youth Participation Projects) can contribute to the development of youth participation in local governance.

Target Audience

This study visit is designed for:

• Youth policy desk officers in municipalities
• Elected representatives responsible for youth policy at the municipal level
• Youth workers engaged in youth participation and community development
• Young representatives from youth participation structures (e.g. youth councils, youth parliaments, committees)

Methodology

The study visit will follow a non-formal, experiential learning approach, incorporating:

• Field visits to local municipalities working with young people in rural areas
• Interactive discussions with local stakeholders, experts, and practitioners
• Workshops and reflections based on Europe Goes Local (European Charter of Local Youth Work) and Democracy Reloading (Reference Framework) tools
• Knowledge exchange and networking among participants to enhance youth work practices

The study visit aims to inspire and equip participants with new approaches to improve youth participation structures and create inclusive opportunities for young people in rural areas.