The "Empowering Youth Values" conference brought many valuable insights for future discussions

University of Tartu Narva College invited youth workers and students, as well as experts and researchers, to think along and discuss the meaning of a value-based approach to working with young people. The international science conference "Empowering Youth Values" was held at the University of Tartu, Narva College and online on the Worksup event platform on May 25, 2023. More than 100 participants from 11 countries attended the conference.

The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of how important it is to use value-based approaches when working with young people and what the best examples so far would be.

Kristina Kallas, Estonian Minister of Education and Research, said in her opening speech that every generation has always fought for their values, so they invariably re-evaluate what is important, good, or, alternatively, bad for them. She mentioned that empowering young people’s values may sound trivial but in practice, it needs a methodical and professional approach from those working with young people.

The director of the University of Tartu Narva College, Indrek Reimand commented that empowering youth values means to empower the progress of the direction of young people’s needs. He also added that he is happy that Narva college has developed a new approach of youth policy which they are actively studying and teaching at the university already.

Teacher in Youth Work at the University of Tartu Narva College, Anne Kivimäe, gave an overview of their three-year research project "Development of an innovative model of youth work organisation at the local level based on a youth-centred approach". She noted that the project team found out that if they want to develop or support youth-centred practice, they need to do it within the framework of the capability approach. The project team saw that it is necessary to understand what young people find inspiring and important for them and how to use their capabilities to achieve a life they have reason to value. Following this discovery, they understood that "the thinking of a reason to value" is the main concept and the heart of the youth-centred approach.

Dr. Gottfried Schweiger from the Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research (CEPR) of the University of Salzburg explained that it is important for the state to give young people many different options to choose from and allow them to participate in decision-making processes. At the same time, it is vital to educate them to be aware of the consequences of their decisions. He observed that young people should understand that behind every decision is a change that either opens or closes some doors in the future and that young people must take this into account!

Maria Murumaa-Mengel PhD, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Tartu, gave a call for the participants of the conference to step up and speak up! She offered three ways to challenge the general recurring nastiness which is highly prevalent in the social media environment right now. Firstly, she said that is important to offer compliments and give a Like on social media for things that make sense and are civilized. Secondly, she issued a call to read up on and to be aware of how things work and be smart about it because that will protect you and develop your media literacy. And thirdly she suggested fighting back, stating that if you see, cruel or inaccurate comments you shouldn’t stay silent and you must express a counter view. However, she added that it always comes with a risk, and you must consider whether it is worth it.

Conference workshops concluded that it is crucial to ask from young people what is important for them. Really listen to them and act according to their expressed needs. Creating a safe space for open dialogue with young people helps us to understand their values and take meaningful action. Respect for the values of young people must be everywhere!

The complete video recording of the conference and all presentations can be found on the YouTube link, click HERE. And click HERE to see the full photo gallery of the conference.

The conference is financed from the resources of the programme "Engaging young people at risk of exclusion and improving youth employment readiness", approved by the Minister of Education and Science and co-financed by the European Social Fund, implemented by the Education and Youth Board.