European Economic
and Social Committee
Youth Work for All: Advancing Inclusive Integration
Through the Youth Work for All – Advancing Inclusive Integration project, Youth Work Ireland is working to strengthen inclusion for some of the most marginalised young people in local communities – those with disabilities, those from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and those living in rural or remote areas.
By focusing on three specific groups of vulnerable young people, the project has a clear focus and a purposeful structure for activities. This targeted approach helps keep goals clearly defined and relevant.
The project seeks to reinforce connections between research, evidence and policy, and contributes to the sharing, development and implementation of innovative tools and practices at a local, regional, national and transnational level that highlight the quality and relevance of youth work methods as effective tools for realising inclusive integration.
The project involves and consults young people from diverse backgrounds as well as youth workers and practitioners who have experience and expertise working with diverse groups to explore and capture the most effective ways of working and empowering marginalised young people. This will include young people’s lived experiences (through co-design, life trajectory interviews and local workshops) to emphasis authentic insight into barriers and possible solutions. The co-design aspect of this project ensures an exciting element of this project’s journey.
The Youth Work for All – Advancing Inclusive Integration project officially began on 1 January 2026 and will run for a period of two years, concluding in December 2027. The project is currently reaching its first major milestone with the Kick‑Off Training Seminar taking place in Bucharest, hosted by Centrul pentru Dezvoltare Comunitară Durabilă. This seminar brings together youth workers and practitioners from all partner organisations – Youth Work Ireland (Ireland), MUDEM Refugee Support Association (Turkey), Centrul pentru Dezvoltare Comunitară Durabilă (Romania), ERYICA (EU) and Kezdj Velünk (Hungary). The event examines current youth work policies and practices, showcases innovative methodologies for inclusion and provides a collaborative space for sharing experiences, co‑designing approaches and identifying priorities for future policy and practice.
As a KA220 Erasmus+ Youth Project, the initiative focuses primarily on supporting youth workers in co‑developing practical tools, resources and evidence that strengthen inclusive integration. Activities will be implemented across Ireland, Turkey, Romania and Hungary, with findings intended to benefit the wider network of the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA). Over the coming months, the project will engage young people through participatory workshops, life‑trajectory interviews and co‑design sessions, while planned activities for 2026 include further training events, pilot testing of new tools and the development of policy recommendations. Although young people do not apply individually to the programme, they will be actively involved through local youth organisations participating in project activities in their respective regions.
Michael MCLOUGHLIN (Ireland)
Member, EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group
Head of Advocacy and Communications, Youth Work Ireland
© EU/EESC