Under its Chairpersonship of the Council of Europe, Malta will host the 4th European Youth Work Convention in the capital city of Valletta. Building on the momentum of previous conventions, this year’s edition – titled ‘Youthwork xcelerate’ – will serve as a roadmap towards a European strategy for youth work – focusing on policy development, implementation, recognition and quality.
The event is set to welcome around 500 participants, including delegations from over 40 countries, as well as representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the voluntary youth sector, and the wider youth work community.
Participants will engage in dynamic plenary sessions, thematic workshops and showcases of inspirational practices. Key themes will include:
- A shared vision for youth work, ethics, recognition, and quality standards.
- Supporting young people through inclusive, empowering youth work practices.
- Developing youth work policy and strategy at all levels, including cross-sectoral cooperation and sustainable funding.
At its heart, the Convention aims to amplify the voices of youth workers, leaders, and organisations. It will explore how youth work can evolve to meet emerging challenges, avoid groupthink, and turn dialogue into meaningful action. While youth work’s language is passionate and aspirational, the silence speaks to real challenges: lack of recognition, precarious funding, and unequal support.
In this context the Convention will shape a strategic vision for youth work in Europe over the next five years, feeding into EU and Council of Europe policy. All stakeholders have a role in building a coherent, time-bound strategy that empowers youth work as a recognised, essential force in young people’s lives.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Harbour at the historic Mediterranean Conference Centre, the Convention is being organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research and Innovation, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, and the EU Programme Agency Malta, with support from the Youth Partnership.
