Youth work
Youth work is a low-threshold provision for all young people. Youth work in the Netherlands is divided into age groups. There is children’s work (4-12 years), work with teenagers (10-14 years) and youth work (12-23 years). A youth worker is a coach and counsellor for young people in their own living environment.
The Netherlands Youth Institute uses the following description for youth work:
• takes place outside school, work and family
• focuses on (groups of) young people
• focuses on the age-group 12-23 years
• organizes activities for and with young people
• has a pedagogical purpose: promoting the personal development of youth and confront them with their own behaviour
• has a social target: promoting social inclusion of youth, and democratic citizenship, and preventing behaviour problems (vandalism, crime, school drop-out)
The main goal of youth work offered by professionals and volunteers is to offer trust-based guidance, support and group interventions to enable all young people to develop their competences and to participate fully in society. The job of a youth worker is varied and the work addresses the promotion of youth participation, non-formal training, education inside and outside schools, parenting issues, reinforcing of social connections in the community and meeting people and creating opportunities for recreation.