EGL Sweden is the name of the national working group within Europe Goes Local*, tasked with supporting the development of local open youth work. The group’s work is based on the document European Charter on Local Youth Work, commonly referred to as ”the Charter”.
Our Vision is that Youth Work in Sweden will be carried out in the way it is described in the Charter. The aim is to stimulate and support the use of the Charter, its principles and guidelines, as a basis for local and regional development of youth work.
To reach our vision we spread information about the Charter to different stakeholders and focus on various themes of the Charter. We now focus specifically on the recognition of youth work from perspectives of competencies i.e. knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, necessary for carrying out youth work in accordance with the principles and actions described in the Charter.
Today EGL Sweden has introduced more than 100 municipalities in Sweden (more than a third) to the Charter, resulting in more than 50 charter ambassadors, mainly municipal youth workers. In the Swedish context the municipalities are key stakeholders in providing quality youth work. These charter ambassadors have a clear mandate from the municipality they work for to support the implementation of the Charter in their organisation.
EGL Sweden’s target group is everyone responsible for and active within the sector, from politicians and managers to youth workers.
The working group organizes training sessions, produces support materials, and disseminates information about local, national, and European activities related to Europe Goes Local.
EGL Sweden was formed in relation to the 3rd European Youth Work Convention in 2020. The group’s work is linked to the adopted resolution by the EU Council of Ministers on a ”European Youth Work Agenda” and the work. The EYWA is a strategic framework for strengthening and developing youth work policies and practices in Europe in the context of the EU Youth Strategy of the EU and the Council of Europe’s 2030 strategy.
We consider the Charter as our way forwards towards a common understanding of the core of youth work. The Charter supports organisations and systems at the same time as it makes youth work more recognisable.
EGL Sweden has united different actors of the youth work field. Having a common ground in the Charter has brought the youth work community in Sweden (and Europe) together and clarified the role of youth work. It is used as a benchmark for common understanding.
Feel free to contact us if you want to know more about our work.
Organisations represented in EGL Sweden
