Study Visit<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8-12 December 2025 | Mechelen, Belgium – FL<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In three full working days you will explore youth work approaches working with refugees and to exchange on approaches and challenges among the participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Youth work can be a powerful space of connection, growth, and belonging for young refugees. Across Europe, youth workers are already opening doors: building trust, creating activities, and offering spaces where young refugees can develop skills, discover talents, and simply be young. Even during stressful asylum procedures, youth work can provide moments of normality, friendship, and hope. To realise this potential, we need to address the remaining barriers. These may include a lack of clear and tailored information about what youth work is and how to take part in it; not feeling welcome in a group or organisation; or practical obstacles such as costs, transport, or not having the right clothes. Refugees\u2014especially those in a procedure for international protection \u2014often live in a situation full of stress, uncertainty, and confusion. In this situation, even when youth workers have good intentions, it can be hard to deal with the complex and difficult reality of refugees\u2019 lives. Youth workers\u2014both volunteers and paid staff\u2014also find it hard to know how to balance their own role with knowing when and how to seek specialized professional support. At the same time, public support, political interest, and funding for refugee support are getting weaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roots of this study visit lie in the belief that youth work\u2014through European youth programmes\u2014can play a vital role in supporting young refugees and strengthening the communities around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this study-visit you will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We developed this study-visit from the lens of post-migrant societies. The concept doesn\u2019t imply that migration has been or should be overcome, but rather that societies are shaped and continue to be shaped by migration: we live in a society where different cultures, stories, and backgrounds come together, and a plurality of voices and experiences need space. We want to strengthen the perspective that young refugees are more than just their migration stories: they have many talents, dreams, and dimensions to their identities. Youth work that understands this helps young people feel seen, heard and supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re interested in reading more, check out the report of the seminar migration shaping youth work<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, you identify yourself as belonging to one or more of the following groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We explain the measures we take to make this study-visit inclusive in \u2018additional information\u2019 (downloads).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This study-visit is organised in the framework of the Strategic Partnership for Inclusion. This consortium between 20+ national agencies aims to increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities and facilitate access of new organisations in the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. You can find more information about SPI in the downloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available downloads:<\/p>\n\n\n\nApproach <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Who is this study-visit for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Application procedure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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About the Strategic Partnership for Inclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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