Call for Trainers

3rd European Youth Work Convention

Description

Date: 7-10 December 2020
Setting: online conference
Number of participants: up to 1.000 participants

Background Information

The European Youth Work Convention (EYWC) is the central platform for discussing the latest developments in youth work practice and youth policy in Europe. The 3rd European Youth Work Convention will take place when the German EU Council Presidency and the German Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe overlap at the end of 2020. The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) will host it. JUGEND für Europa, the National Agency for the EU programmes Erasmus+ Youth in Action and European Solidarity Corps (Germany), is its partner in organising and developing the content of the event.

There were two previous conventions held under the Belgian EU Council Presidency in 2010 and the Belgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2015. The 1st European Youth Work Convention had addressed the diversity of opportunities, actions, and experiences in youth work in Europe and their appreciation. The 2nd European Youth Work Convention had identified a common ground of all youth work in Europe. Its final declaration called for a European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA). The 3rd European Youth Work Convention plays a crucial role in establishing this European Youth Work Agenda as a strategic framework for further developing and strengthening youth work practice and policies in Europe.

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions, the conference – which was supposed to take place at the World Conference Center Bonn – is moved completely into the digital space.

Objectives

The EYWC, as the central event linking youth work practice and youth policy, aims to

• work together to further develop youth work practice,
• enhance the visibility of youth work and its value,
• facilitate discussions on specific topics,
• acquire new insights and transfer knowledge
• and promote common ground and joint action within the youth work community of practice.

Regarding the establishment of the European Youth Work Agenda, the 3rd EYWC serves as the kick-off event for implementing the Agenda by

• providing information about the Agenda,
• initiating the Agenda implementation,
• developing recommendations on priorities for the Agenda implementation,
• promoting ideas for activities within the Agenda implementation,
• supporting the launch of national processes and activities,
• enabling and exploiting synergies between all stakeholders involved,
• creating commitment and ownership,
• strengthening professionals and multipliers from youth work practice, youth policy and youth research (the youth work community of practice)
• and pooling all forces to improve the framework conditions and the quality of youth work practice.

https://www.eywc2020.eu/en/

Profile of participants

• Up to 1.000 participants from up to 50 countries in Europe are invited to discuss the latest developments in youth work practice and youth policy in Europe and discuss ideas for further developing youth work and thus implementing the European Youth Work Agenda.
• Among the participants will be youth work stakeholders from the local (including municipal), regional, national, and European level, such as youth workers, project carriers and youth work organisations (both public and independent youth work), trainers and their pools and representations, ministries and civil servants responsible for youth and youth policy, researchers and academic educators of youth workers, European institutions, National Agencies for the European youth programmes, multipliers and youth activists and young people and youth representations.
• Participants should be able to work in English.

Requested trainer profile

With this call, we are looking for one event facilitator for the methodological and pedagogical design of the 3rd European Youth Work Convention. The event facilitator will work together regularly and closely with the EYWC project team at JUGEND für Europa and the team responsible for the digital implementation of the conference. A regular, close exchange and an openness to deal flexibly with possibly changing circumstances in times of the current pandemic are essential. The preparatory process will include regular participation in online meetings. Additionally, there will be a preparation meeting with the EYWC project team and possibly the digital facilitation team probably in the week 21-25 September 2020 (exact dates to be confirmed) and prior to the event.

Role and tasks

The event facilitator is responsible for further developing the programme of the 3rd EYWC regarding methodology and pedagogy on the basis of the already existing programme elements, in close co-operation with the EYWC project team and the digital facilitators. Continuous cooperation and exchange is an essential part of the tasks.

The programme architecture of the 3rd European Youth Work Convention is based on modules with parallel sessions and room for plenary sessions. The methodology of the 3rd EYWC should offer different approaches and formats. The following elements should be part of the programme: official opening and closing, key note speeches, panel discussions, getting to know each other and the online-event-platform, (informal) networking possibilities and exchange , workshops, meetings of national delegations/stakeholder groups, presentation of a final declaration, market place, evening programme, possibly open space formats etc.

There will be programme elements for registered participants only, while other programme elements might be live streamed or even opened in a more participatory way to the wider public. Contributions to the EYWC will come from youth work practice, research and policy.

Experience with group discussions and processes, providing space and dynamic methods for participants to share their practice in online-settings is required to be able to foresee, propose, and adjust parts of the contents and processes accordingly. One main goal of the event is to create a sense of ownership among all participants for the European Youth Work Agenda and its objectives.

Participatory digital methodology will be a very important element, which the project team would like to develop with the event facilitator. Therefore, additional knowledge and experience with digital tools and media (Internet, social media, streaming, etc.) are required to conceptualise the methodological components of the event together with the project team and the digital facilitators and to be able to foresee, propose, and adjust parts of the contents and processes accordingly.

During the event, the event facilitator ensures that all methodological approaches run smoothly and supports the EYWC project team. Furthermore, the event facilitator might guide the participants during informal settings and/or joint evening events. The event facilitator will work together with the project team at an interface in terms of methodological implementation and cooperation with other groups of people at the EYWC such as the team responsible for the digital implementation, moderators, workshop facilitators, etc. The facilitator will be responsible for coordinating the workshop facilitators and rapporteurs prior to and during the event.

Expectations and selection criteria

• Sound experience in methodical and pedagogical design and facilitation of large-scale international (online) events, in English, in European youth work and/or related fields
• Fluent in English (including writing skills)
• Potential to enrich the event concept with creative ideas

Working conditions

Important dates and deadlines

• Preparation meeting, 1,5-2 days, probably in the week of 21-25 September 2020 (exact dates to be confirmed) preferably in Bonn, Germany or online, if not possible otherwise due to the coronavirus situation.
• Final preparation meeting before the start of the event: 6 December 2020, preferably in the city in Germany, where the event is hosted or online, if not possible otherwise due to the coronavirus situation.
• Participation in the (online) preparatory meetings constitutes an important part of the preparatory process and is therefore obligatory.

Fee and expenses

• Travel costs and full board and lodging related to the preparatory meeting in Bonn in September 2020 and to the 3rd EYWC will be covered by the organisers.
• The selected facilitator will receive a fee of 10.000 EUR (based on an estimated working time of 25 days) upon completion of all tasks.

Team composition

The facilitator will work together with the project team at an interface in terms of methodological implementation and cooperation with other groups of people at the EYWC such as the team responsible for the digital implementation, moderators, workshop facilitators, etc. The facilitator will be responsible for coordinating the workshop facilitators and rapporteurs prior to and during the event.

Application & selection procedure

Apply no later than: 28 August 2020, 23:59 CEST
How to apply:

Applications are to highlight the background of the candidate in relation to the theme of the 3rd European Youth Work Convention, i.e. recent or current developments and challenges for youth work in Europe. Aspects of innovation in terms of creative methodologies are an asset. Links to examples of previous work are to be provided in the application form.

All interested facilitators should apply through the following online form:
http://onlineform.salto-youth.net/1757

Selection will be made by German NA.

For more information

Jana Droste, Project Officer
Phone: 0049 228 9506351
Email: