Would professional youth work make a positive difference?

Abstract

Before actually starting this course of studies I was heavily involved in youth work mostly through a religious organization in Haz-Zabbar. I just loved making everything that was possible in order to provide the best for all the members of the group. However, I always needed more time to create different projects, to reach out for more young people and, most of all, more time to use in communicating with the young people which would allow me to identify needs and create more useful meetings and plans. When speaking with other youth leaders we always mentioned how good it would be to actually perform youth work as a full time employment. Same discussion was repeated over and over again during the past five years at university while reading for this degree. The big question was what would happen if youth work would be legally professionalized. Would professional youth work create a positive difference? This research looks at the various scenarios in different countries while also noting various opinions which are then compared in a bid to look at the subject from different perspectives. The research provides food for thought for anyone involved in youth work at different levels while also creating discussion about the different aspects of creating another caring profession. A dominant factor was the combination of theory and practice which would result in having an experienced and informed youth worker. However many argued that this combination alone would result in a youth worker. Adding passion, on the other hand, would result in a professional youth worker. The research aims at creating discussion while looking ahead in a practice which is not as young as many think it is.