JULY 5 - 7 > Ghent
1st European Conference on the history of youth work and youth policy - Relevance for youth work policy today

- > From 5 to 7 July 2010, Ghent
- > Combine it with the Youth Work Convention (7 to 10 July 2010, Ghent)
- > Delegations are invited to stay for both events
No future without a past
Youth work tends to concentrate on the here and now. This is reinforced by a high turnover of members and youth workers. Our youth work has a long history, which led to the practices we know today. Therefore it is good to explore where we come from.
- How did youth work principles evolve through history?
- Which practices have been thrown overboard and why?
- Which policies have been tried before or were recycled several times?
A programme full of insights and exchange
In this conference in the historical city of Ghent, we dive into youth work history.
- We look at different countries and compare their youth work histories.
- We explore the history of several worldwide youth work forms and observe how they evolved in differentiated ways in different countries.
- We will have a look at the history of youth policy and youth research in their connection to youth work practice.
- And we won’t leave out the testimonies of former youth work participants.
In several keynote speeches and work group introductions, we address these different topics. The focus will lie on discussions with all participants, an exciting mix of researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
Who is invited to participate?
Official delegations from all states who signed the Cultural Treaty of the Council of Europe, will be invited to both this Youth Work History Conference (5-7 July 2010) and the European Youth Work Convention (7-10 July 2010). The delegations should be composed of:
- One representative from the ministry
- One researcher doing (applied) research in the field of youth (work) or social history
- Youth workers, representative of the diversity of youth work in your country, who have practical experience in working with children and young people and/or experience with (lobbying towards) policy and decision making structures
Invitation from minister Smet
download invitation (.pdf)
Practical information
download practical information (.pdf)