Awero team
How to support organisations to strengthen and plan digital youth work
18 Apr, 22:04
For many good youth work organisations, the question isn’t if digital youth work matters, but how to grow their offer and create a strategy that fits their reality. During the international seminar “Digital Systemic”, we asked the digital youth work experts to share simple, honest ways to support this process.
Scroll down to discover inspiring resources and examples to strengthen your digital youth work.
Why should we do that?
This is a common question inside youth work organisations. Vismantas, a youth worker at the Open Youth Centre in Panevezys, Lithuania, suggested the answer starts with examples: “Show good possibilities. Even an exchange or discussion during the Zoom meeting is a step. You can always learn something.”
It’s not about doing everything digital. It’s about taking meaningful steps.
He also shared a creative tip: make a QR code wall - photos of people or projects with QR codes leading to more information or stories. This kind of blended format adds a digital layer without overwhelming anyone.
Start from what you already do well
Urska, the programme coordinator and educator at TiPovej!, Institute for Creative Society in Slovenia, advised asking a simple question: What are you proud of?
“You don’t need to invent digital youth work - you need to bring it to people who don’t have it yet.”
She encourages adapting existing practices, like turning a physical game into a digital one by changing just a few things. “People freeze when they think it can’t be digital, but small tweaks open new paths.”
Keep it human and connected
Monique, the director of the CITI - Curaçao Innovation & Technology Institute, reminded us that digital work doesn’t need to be huge or complicated. “It can be just a small workshop for youth workers,” she said. “Because it will never be enough - there is so much digital youth work out there.”
The point is to connect the strategy to actual needs and communication habits inside the team. Please don’t make it a side project; make it part of your work and thinking.
Ask young people what they want
Paul from the Marlijn Academie/3Antonius in the Netherlands was clear: “You can also show other organisations the impact digital youth work has.” But more importantly, don’t assume - ask.
What do young people want to do online? What stops them from engaging in digital activity? Maybe it’s not the idea - they don’t want to register through email or scan a QR code.
Nejc, the digital youth work consultant at the Creation Hub in Slovenia, suggested discovering the real barrier: “Maybe they just don’t want to fill a form. Maybe it’s the tool, not the idea.”
He shared an example of youth being asked to register in advance for a Cities of Learning workshop. After the session, they could claim an Open Badge. This small change helped young people engage more seriously.
Blended formats help reduce digital fear and fatigue
Maya, the founder and coordinator at GreenKidz Foundation in Curaçao, talked about two things we hear often: digital fear and digital fatigue. Her advice? Don’t go entirely online - mix it up. “Create blended sessions where face-to-face is mixed with digital tools. Add that layer.”
Some young people might not want to speak up in person. Offering digital ways to share can help.
Maya also shared how volunteer work can support digitalisation. “Ask people: how can you help make this organisation better?” This kind of co-creation builds ownership and trust.
Balance fun and purpose
Joey from the Dutch Cities of Learning shared that digital fatigue is real, but so is creativity. “Make a digital art gallery,” he said. “You can do it physically and then put it online.”
He mentioned platforms like Habbo Hotel - a simple virtual space where people can decorate rooms and chat. “It’s nice to collaborate online.” You don’t always need to host a workshop. Sometimes playful online spaces build just as much connection.
Think long-term impact
Kaja, a social media manager and workshop facilitator at the Creation Hub in Slovenia, added a powerful point: “A digital platform will stay forever. That can motivate artists to join, to show off their work for longer.”
When something lasts longer than an event, it feels more valuable. This idea can be built into your strategy—design your digital work so it has a life beyond the moment.
Expanding digital youth work and building a strategy isn’t about doing everything simultaneously. It’s about noticing what’s already strong, starting small, listening to young people, and mixing digital into what already works. If it makes sense to them, they’ll come along. If it feels natural to your team, they’ll build on it.
Inspiring resources to advance with digital youth work
Want to assess your organisation’s digital competencies and capacities? Try these self-assessment tools to map where you stand.
Interested in developing your digital youth work strategy? Organise an activity to build a digital youth work strategy.
Watch the following video about organisational development for digital youth work.
Watch the following video about organisational development for digital youth work.
Looking for inspiration? Looking for inspiration? Our platform features examples of digital youth work, from advanced youth work projects to youth worker digital competence development pathways.
This blog post is part of the Digital Systemic initiative, which helps youth work organisations grow confidently in their digital journey. A clear plan or strategy is key - it helps turn good digital practices into something sustainable, focused, and ready to grow.
The Cities of Learning Network members carry out the Erasmus+ co-funded cooperation partnership, involving the following organisations:
- Awero, Lithuania, info@awero.org
- Breakthrough Foundation, Netherlands
- Curaçao Innovation & Technology Institute (CITI)
- TiPovej! Zavod - Institute for Creative Society, Slovenia
Deli:
Badgecraft vodi spletno infrastrukturo za mesta in regije učenja in jo razvija skupaj z vodilnimi izobraževalnimi organizacijami. Evropski konzorcij razvija to platformo s pomočjo sofinanciranja programa Evropske unije Erasmus+. Kontaktirajte support@badgecraft.eu.
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