poywe = professional open youth work in Europe ‪ Karin Peham-Strauß Vice president of poywe = professional open youth work in Europe

What is POYWE? = Professional open youth work in Europe POYWE is an European Network of organisations for Professional, Open Youth Work, which strives to strengthen cooperation, enhance quality and give a common voice to this field of action also on European Level.

Why did we take the initiative to POYWE? (Professional open youth work in Europe) Professional Open Youth Work is around for more than half a century and has proven that it is a valuable non-formal learning tool and a solid infrastructure to work with those youngsters who are often referred to as “hard to reach”. Despite this fact several representatives of this field of action felt that their experience and expertise were lacking a common voice in European policy processes.

Why did we take the initiative to POYWE? (Professional open youth work in Europe) After several meetings in 2012 an association was established, which as a first step organised a first European Conference under the leadership of the Austrian member on the topic in Vienna in January 2013. www.poywe.org

Objectives & Methods POYWE pursues the following objectives: Strengthening the position of Professional Open Youth Work Making the effects and the necessity of this field of action visible A common approach to quality development

POYWE brings over these objectives by: Exchange of ideas and best-practice e.g. by organising meetings and seminar where the practitioners can meet Creating a platform for the development of new and innovative approaches among partners from different European countries Producing and spreading knowledge about youth work and its methods e.g. by print, internet and expert-meetings Providing a European partner for communication with the European Commission, the Council of Europe and other stakeholders

Basics & future POYWE is member based and bottom up organisation. The members pay a contribution, which covers the basic costs of the organisation thus ensuring independence, and a member led approach. In 2014 we hope to be able to employ one person to run the day to day business, mainly members of the board will represent POYWE on a European level, new partners will be taken on and some first European projects will be developed.

How to join If you are representing an organisation that provides/represents professional open youth work on national or regional level and you are interested in joining this new network and willing to contribute a fee between € 1.000.-- and € 4.000.-- (based on the turnover of your organisation) as well as your energy and work, send a mail to director@poywe.org and you will receive a membership-application-form as well as information on upcoming events and “entry points”. THANKS again ;)