T Kit 7 European Citizenship In Youth Work

At what level should young people engage in society? What impact can local youth organisations have, when faced with massive European or even global issues? The concept of European Citizenship is deeply connected with the ideals of democracy, participation and human rights in Europe and beyond. On the one hand, many young people express those ideals in multiple ways, as active citizens, outside and inside formal democratic structures. On the other hand, it is still a challenge to stimulate many young people to engage more in society and feel concerned by wider European or global processes. This T-Kit was written to find ways to stimulate young people to engage more in society, thus exploring citizenship, and to support them as they develop their sense of belonging to the wider community, Europe, as they become concerned about, and committed to, its values, its present and its future.

T-Kits ( = Training kits) are a product of the Partnership Agreement on European Youth Worker Training run by the CoE and the European Communities Commission

In 1998, the Council of Europe and the European Commission decided to take common action in the field of youth. Both institutions initiated a partnership agreement with the aim "to promote active European citizenship and civil society by giving impetus to the training of youth leaders and youth workers working within a European dimension". In 2003, additional agreements were signed in the fields of "youth research" and "Euro-Mediterranean youth co-operation". Since 2005, the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth activities has focused on the following topics: European citizenship, human rights education and intercultural dialogue, quality and recognition of youth work and training, better understanding and knowledge of youth and youth policy development. The partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth brings together the two institutions' experience in non-formal education, youth policy, youth research and youth work practice. Activities organised within its framework gather representatives of those areas who share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of enhancing evidence-based policy, practice, quality and recognition of youth work and training. Results and other material are made available on the partnership website (http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int) and in various publications, including the Training Kits (T-Kits). T-Kits are thematic publications written by experienced youth trainers and experts and constitute easy-to-use handbooks for educational activities. All activities and publications enhance the exchange of experience and good practice between the actors involved and contribute to the implementation of the political objectives of both partner institutions.

Promote value -based education in general and in learning mobility in the youth field in particular. Learning mobility in the youth field is increasingly recognised and present in European programmes and in the activities and initiatives supported by the European Union, the Council of Europe and other institutions. Providing a meeting place for people from different environments and communities, learning-mobility programmes draw attention to values, trigger reflections on them and stimulate questioning and critical examination. If prepared and facilitated well, these experiences can contribute to preparing and supporting young people and adult learners to be active in society and to be agents of change. This T-Kit has been written by and is for facilitators of learning, to help start their thinking process about an important, but also complex, topic. It aims to promote value-based education in general: to explain it and, with practical examples related to specific values, show how it can be used. It is framed within the current policy framework of the Council of Europe and the European Union, including their youth-mobility programmes. The T-Kit should be understood through a holistic learning and non-formal education approach: the combination of theory, background information, examples and some practical ideas should help to initiate reflection from the relatively new angle of value-based education in learning mobility in the youth field. Value-based learning is not neutral, and neither is the T-Kit – Value-based learning in mobility projects. It is rooted in a set of values that it explores, promotes and encourages action based on them. To support this process, the T-Kit is divided into two parts: one conceptual and one practical. The conceptual part lays the foundation for value-based learning in mobility, while the practical part encompasses concrete activities and “thought provokers”, which address the dilemmas and questions that can arise when implementing activities.

In 1998, the Council of Europe and the European Commission decided to take common action in the field of youth. Both institutions initiated a partnership agreement with the aim "to promote active European citizenship and civil society by giving impetus to the training of youth leaders and youth workers working within a European dimension". In 2003, additional agreements were signed in the fields of "youth research" and "Euro-Mediterranean youth co-operation". Since 2005, the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of Youth activities have been focusing on the following topics: European Citizenship, human rights education and intercultural dialogue, quality and recognition of youth work and training, better understanding and knowledge of youth and youth policy development. The partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of Youth brings together the two institutions' experience in non formal education, youth policy, youth research and youth work practice. The co-operation between the two institutions covers a wide spectrum of activities such as training, seminars, workshops, networking and dialogue design. Results and other material are made available on the partnership website (http://youth-partnership.coe.int) and in various publications, including the Training Kits (T-Kits). T-Kits are thematic publications written by experienced youth trainers and experts and constitute easy to use handbooks for educational activities. All activities and publications enhance the exchange of experience and good practice between the actors involved and contribute to the implementation of the political objectives of both partners.

In 1998, the Council of Europe and the European Commission decided to take common action in the field of youth. Both institutions initiated a partnership agreement with the aim "to promote active European citizenship and civil society by giving impetus to the training of youth leaders and youth workers working within a European dimension". In 2003, additional agreements were signed in the fields of "youth research" and "Euro-Mediterranean youth co-operation". Since 2005, the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth activities has focused on the following topics: European citizenship, human rights education and intercultural dialogue, quality and recognition of youth work and training, better understanding and knowledge of youth and youth policy development. The partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth brings together the two institutions' experience in non-formal education, youth policy, youth research and youth work practice. Activities organised within its framework gather representatives of those areas who share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of enhancing evidence-based policy, practice, quality and recognition of youth work and training. Results and other material are made available on the partnership website (http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int) and in various publications, including the Training Kits (T-Kits). T-Kits are thematic publications written by experienced youth trainers and experts and constitute easy-to-use handbooks for educational activities. All activities and publications enhance the exchange of experience and good practice between the actors involved and contribute to the implementation of the political objectives of both partner institutions.

The co-operation between the two institutions covers a wide spectrum of activities and publications, including the Training Kits. T-Kits are thematic publications written by experienced youth trainers and constitute easy-to-use handbooks for use in educational activities