As young women who work with young people, we want to say that working with young people is one of the most beautiful jobs that someone can do. We feel very good spiritually and mentally when we deal with young people, helping them in different fields to overcome problems, learn new things, deal more with different projects and activities, and be as active as possible. To work with young people, we must first understand their world and their preferences, what they like the most, and what they want to do so that we can find activities based on their interests.

Youth workers represent an indisputable source of energy and innovation in the labour market. With our fresh skills and minds open to creation, we have the potential to transform sectors and organizations in new and innovative ways. The role of young workers in the workforce is varied but essential in creating a productive and successful work environment. One of the main roles of young workers is their contribution to improving productivity and innovation in their workplaces. With a fresh approach and natural creativity, they bring new perspectives and fresh solutions to work challenges and tasks. This freshness of ideas and interactions inspires the development of innovative products and services, helping organisations grow and compete in a changing market.

In addition to contributing to innovation and productivity, motivating young workers is a key aspect of their overall performance in the workplace. Because of their willingness to learn and succeed, they are often willing to take on new responsibilities and develop their skills. While a motivated work environment affects the performance and productivity of the entire team, new employees also benefit from this motivation for personal and professional development. To help motivate new workers, organizations need to offer attractive development and advancement opportunities, such as training, mentoring, and opportunities to take on new responsibilities. A work culture where the contribution of each worker is valued and the sharing of knowledge and ideas is encouraged also improves the motivation and engagement of new workers.

Young workers represent a valuable asset to the workforce and to society as a whole. With their unusual potential for innovation and their boundless energy, they play a critical role in improving the productivity and success of organizations. By creating a motivated and encouraging environment for young workers, organizations can benefit from their contribution to improving performance and achieving business goals.

The youth work profession focuses on helping, working, and supporting young people. Our understanding of youth work is that it is about empowerment and advocacy on behalf of young people. We want to be youth workers who make a difference. This means putting one hundred percent into the work we do with young people.

Youth workers play a vital role in the lives of young people, providing guidance, support, and opportunities for growth. As youth workers, we have a passion for helping young individuals navigate the challenges they face and empowering them to reach their full potential. A great youth worker is someone compassionate, patient, and understanding. We try to create a safe and inclusive space where young people feel heard, valued, and supported. It’s a rewarding and impactful role that can make a positive difference in the lives of young people because they are our future. Maybe we cannot build their future, but we can prepare them for it.

What key skills does a youth worker need?

• Reliability
• Integrity
• Open-mindedness
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Confidentiality
• Multilingualism

What are youth worker values?

• Young people are voluntarily participating.
• Utilizing young people’s view of the world 
• Treating young people with respect 
• Helping young people develop stronger relationships and collective identities 
• Respecting and valuing differences 
• Promoting the voice of young people

Volunteering is an amazing way to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others. It shows a person’s selflessness and their desire to contribute to a cause they care about. Whether it’s volunteering at a local shelter, helping out at a charity event, or dedicating time to mentorship programs, someone’s voluntary experience can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. It allows them to connect with others, develop new skills, and create positive change. It’s truly inspiring to see someone’s commitment to making the world a better place through their voluntary efforts!

Let’s not forget that working with young people is sometimes challenging, and there are obstacles, of course, because we don’t know all young people well and who comes from which background, and we have to find the best way to bring them closer to our positive circle. We must help them to become better, wiser, develop their critical thinking, be ambitious, creative, open-minded, and many other things, because if we, as youth workers, do not fulfil these things and do not try to change something in our society, then I think that everything is in vain and that we do not deserve the job we have.

In conclusion, we would say that our hearts are full of pride, passion, and motivation when we see young people trying to make a good impact, first in their lives, then in other people’s lives, and our community. But definitively, working with young people is one of the best, most interesting, and most motivating jobs. It is a very good feeling to work with young people because we don’t know what they are going through in their lives, and the moment they engage in different activities and try to do something, it means that they try to get rid of some thoughts from themselves and become the best possible version of themselves, and this is also a success for them and us.

Anesa Miftari & Remzije Abazi

Anesa and Remzije represented Volunteers Centre Skopje in the training course “Totally Understanding” organized by Fundacja Sempre a Frente in Lublin, Poland from the 22nd to the 29th of February 2024.

Sources: 

Indeed.com

Council of Europe European Union

National Youth Agency (NYA)