8-12 December 2025 | Mechelen, Belgium – FL

In three full working days you will explore youth work approaches working with refugees and to exchange on approaches and challenges among the participants.

Background

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—especially those in a procedure for international protection —often 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’ lives. Youth workers—both volunteers and paid staff—also 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.

The roots of this study visit lie in the belief that youth work—through European youth programmes—can play a vital role in supporting young refugees and strengthening the communities around them.

Why participate?

In this study visit you will:

• Learn about concrete practices, methods, and tools that were developed by youth work organisations working with refugees.
• Reflect on the role of voluntary and professional youth workers involving refugees in their activities and on the boundary between youth work and other professional support (for example psychological and administrative needs).
• Exchange ideas and experiences with other youth workers from across Europe who face similar challenges.
• Find out how organisations respond to the societal and political context in which support for refugees is being challenged.