Developing Youth Work Innovation. E-handbook.

What is this eHandbook about?

The eHandbook is focused on Innovation in youth work; it is intended for practitioners who are looking for innovative tools to use in their activities with young people, including digital youth work. The approaches covered are Art of Hosting, Design Thinking, Humour Techniques, Learning Experience Design, Digital Storytelling (animation), Gamification, Photovoice and Visualization.

We also added more inspiration from all involved countries and from the European context.

What can you get out of it?

In the eHandbook, practitioners can also find step-by-step methods and activity descriptions that they can be directly transferred to their daily work. Finally, it lists several resources and already existing free online tools that youth workers can use easily.

It’s an innovative output itself since in youth work, there are no publications specifically about creativity and innovation. Moreover, the tools that this project proposed to explore had so far not been gathered in one toolbox specifically adapted for youth workers with tips and recommendations of how to use each of these methodologies in several youth work settings to promote inclusion and youth participation.

This eHandbook is a fundamental piece of our project as it allows mainstreaming of covered methodologies and it will be a permanent and free resource for all youth workers all around Europe.

FutureLabs – Youth Work Innovation

This eHandbook is one of the Intellectual Outputs of the KA2 – Strategic Partnership for Innovation Project “FUTURE LABS – Innovation in Youth Work” coordinated by Humak University of Applied Sciences Finland, with Finland, with the support of Finnish Hyvärilä Youth and holiday Centre, Ha Moment and Team Mais from Portugal, YouthWatch from Slovakia, Asociace neformálního vzdělávání (ANEV) from the Czech Republic, Associazione Agrado from Italy and PiNA from Slovenia.

An inclusive narrative unfolds in a setting where education is not merely about information, but about human connection and mutual growth. This space centers on shared values, nurturing environments, and the opportunity for every learner to contribute uniquely. The focus lies on creating dynamic learning experiences that honor individual perspectives while weaving them into a communal tapestry of insight and collaboration. At the heart of this setting is a belief that development spans the individual and the collective. Whether rooted in structured learning or emergent dialogic spaces, the emphasis remains on fostering competencies that serve broader social well-being. Learning here is both purposeful and transformative—designed not only to inform but also to inspire responsible and creative participation in community and culture.

Julkaisutiedot

Olga Kuczynska, Sérgio Gonçalves and Laris Guerri (2019) Developing Youth Work Innovation. E-handbook. Helsinki. Humak University of Applied Sciences Publications, 82.

ISBN 978-952-456-341-3 (print)

ISBN 978-952-456-342-0 (e-publication)

ISSN 2343-0664 (print)

ISSN 2343-0672 (digital) 

Proofreading: Lucie Prisovska
Photos are taken from the project events by the project partners
Graphics design: Marco Politano
Layout and book design: Emilia Reponen

THIS BOOK WAS DEVELOPED BY PARTNERSHIP OF FUTURE LABS, NAMELY:
Team MAIS – Portugal: Anita Silva and Rui Branco;
Ha Moment – Portugal: Olga Kuczynska and Sérgio Gonçalves;
Associazione Agrado – Italy: Laris Guerri and Marco Politano
Humak – Finland: Kari Keuru, Kristiina Vesama and Jarmo Röksä;
Hyvärilä – Finland: Eila Lintunen;
Youthwatch – Slovakia: Tomas Pesek and Alena Tomanova;
PINA – Slovenia: Urska Vezovnik;
ANEV – Czech Republic: Lenka Polcerova and Jolana Dočkalová