Empowerment of young people means encouraging them to take charge of their own lives. Today, young people across Europe are facing diverse challenges and youth work in all its forms can serve as a catalyst for empowerment.

Young people must have the opportunity to lead change within their own communities. We seek ways to enable vulnerable youth to understand and defend their rights.

Member States and the European Commission are invited to:

• Develop and implement a European Youth Work Agenda for quality, innovation and recognition of youth work;
• Support quality youth work development on all levels, including policy development in the field, training for youth workers, the establishment of legal frameworks and sufficient allocation of resources;
• Support youth work activities, including grassroots, and recognise youth organisations as providers of competences development and social inclusion through youth work and non-formal education activities;
• Create and further develop easily accessible youth contact points that deliver a wide range of services and/or provide youth information.