Youth work : philosophical approaches adopted by Maltese youth workers

Abstract

In recent years international studies have focused on understanding the nature of youth work practice by providing definitions, developing theoretical frameworks and analysing its impact on youth. In Malta, youth work as a profession has gained impetus thanks to the introduction of employment opportunities, the setting up of ‘Aġenzija Żgħażagh’ and ‘Youth Work Profession Act’. Nevertheless, a number of youth work services are still carried out on voluntary basis. The principles that Maltese youth workers are expected to adopt are emancipation, participation and empowerment. The concept of empowerment is professed in the 2010 National Youth Policy. The aims of this research were to identify which philosophical approach/es are guiding the youth workers’ practice and what impact youth work has on youth. The research looks at number of studies conducted on youth work provision and discussing different theoretical frameworks and philosophical approaches. The Classical, Romantic, Progressivist and Constructivist philosophical approaches are discussed in some detail and adopted as the theoretical framework for this study. The collation of data was through semi-structured interviews conducted with ten youth workers engaged in the youth work field. The interviewees involved had either a BA (Hons) degree or a Master’s degree in Youth and Community Studies. The salient points emerging from this study were that the interviewed youth workers shift between the Romantic and Progressivist philosophical approaches. The reason was mainly that some provisions focused more on preventive programmes rather than empowering ones. Another interesting aspect was the use of funded projects which at times seemed to limit the active involvement of young people. Lastly the majority of the youth workers found it difficult to identify the impact of their provision on young people.