The project of Youth work in schools, YWIS, develops youth work in educational environments. The aim is to define the role and opportunities of youth work in schools. Another aim is to incorporate informal education opportunities to formal education and to integrate the objectives of youth work and curricula. YWIS further increases the quality of youth work through four themes: sustainable development, democracy education, student wellbeing work and strengthening the
sense of community.
YWIS organises transnational meetings, workshops and training, and publishes materials and reviews
concerning youth work in schools for international use. Moreover, each partner establishes local collaboration and disseminates the results through national networks.
After YWIS youth work in schools is better identified in partner organisations and regions. Cooperation between schools and youth work organisations is established to facilitate and develop young people’s informal education. Youth work is better integrated into school curricula and practices. Youth workers’ competence has strengthened and new contents have been introduced to carry out youth work in schools.
Project name: Youth work in schools, YWIS
Duration: 1.9.2022 – 31.8.2025
Funding: Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in youth KA220-YOU
Lead partner: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk. Partners: Freguesia de Vila Boa do Bispo (Portugal), University of Thessaly (Greece) and Saaremaa Noorsootöö Keskus (Estonia). Other partners: Municipality of Mikkeli.
More info: xamk.fi/youthworkinschools
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School-based youth work is becoming international
Objectives
The project of Youth work in schools, YWIS, develops youth work in educational environments. The aim is to define the role and opportunities of youth work in schools. Another aim is to incorporate informal education opportunities to formal education and to integrate the objectives of youth work and curricula. YWIS further increases the quality of youth work through four themes: sustainable development, democracy education, student wellbeing work and strengthening the sense of community.
Implementation
YWIS consists of four work packages: Project management, Best practices of local networks, Mixing and testing best practices and Arranging learning and teaching activities. YWIS organises transnational meetings, workshops and training, and publishes materials and reviews concerning youth work in schools for international use. Moreover, each partner establishes local collaboration and disseminates the results through national networks.
Results
After YWIS youth work in schools is better identified in partner organisations and regions. Cooperation between schools and youth work organisations is established to facilitate and develop young people’s informal education. Youth work is better integrated into school curricula and practices. Youth workers’ competence has strengthened and new contents have been introduced to carry out youth work in schools.
More information about Erasmus+ programs: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/
The European Commission is not responsible for the content of this publication.
Latest news
YWIS BOOK
European Perspectives and Good Practices on
Youth Work in Schools and Educational Institutions
Inspiration and Approaches for Youth Workers
- YWIS – Youth Work in School Training SeminarThe YWIS – Youth Work in School Training Seminar is an Erasmus+ project initiativeorganized by the Laboratory of Sociology of Education at the University of Thessaly. Theseminar took place in Volos, Greece, from May 23 to 25, 2025. Over the course of three days,the event featured a series of workshops, discussions, and presentations focused oninnovative youth work practices and community building within schools.On Friday, May 23, the program begun with a workshop on the Sociocratic Circle Method asa methodology for educational commons, led by Naya Tselepi. This is followed by a sessionon active listening and communication skills using the Thomas… Read more: YWIS – Youth Work in School Training Seminar
- “Youth Work in Schools” Project Nears Completion: Key Milestones Achieved and Final Steps UnderwayThe “Youth Work in Schools” (YWIS) project is making significant strides towards its successful completion, with most key tasks now nearing finalization. During the recent project meeting on June 16, 2025, partners celebrated considerable progress and outlined the upcoming crucial steps. A special congratulations was extended to the Greek team for the successful publication of their article, a notable achievement for the project. The e-learning platform is now largely complete, with all submitted materials successfully uploaded. Finnish materials are expected to be integrated this week, and Estonia’s content is confirmed as complete. Portugal is finalizing the self-assessment questions, aiming to… Read more: “Youth Work in Schools” Project Nears Completion: Key Milestones Achieved and Final Steps Underway
- TELL US ABOUT YOUTH WORK IN SCHOOLSJOIN SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH WORK PROJECT! The Erasmus project YWIS – Youth work in schools develops youth work in schools and educational environments. The aim is to define the role and opportunities of youth work in schools. Another aim is to incorporate informal education opportunities to formal education and to integrate the objectives of youth work and curricula. YWIS further increases the quality of youth work through four themes: YWIS starts by collecting good practices from different countries. Transferring a good practice from one place to another is not easy. Petri Paju (2008, 3) illustrates the transfer of good practice to changing a… Read more: TELL US ABOUT YOUTH WORK IN SCHOOLS
YWIS project coordinating organization JUVENIA Youth Research and Development center had their 15th anniversary on 10.10.2023.
Marita and Veronica from Juvenia had info about YWIS-project themes for the participants and were looking for cooperation for the future piloting activities.
