The Sustainable Youth Work Meeting is jointly organized by International Young Naturefriends (IYNF). The meeting serves as a continuation of series of networking meetings organized by IYNF in previous years. Sustainability is one of the 5 values of IYNF. Yet it is sometimes hard to explain what we really mean with this and especially how we implement and live it. By organising this meeting we would like to get more clarity on this field for all involved stakeholders. We want to provide a space to discuss and discover the topic of sustainability, which is an up-to-date topic in general and especially in Naturefriends organisations.

The Sustainable Youth Work Meeting is jointly organized by International Young Naturefriends (IYNF). The meeting serves as a continuation of series of networking meetings organized by IYNF in previous years.

This year, the formula of the meeting has been redesigned, basing on the feedback of past participants, organizing teams and sponsors. Similarly to previous Networking Conferences, Sustainable Youth Work Meeting will be a conference for young and active people keen to meet like-minded individuals and exchange experiences. This meeting will have more focus on one, specific, though very wide topic: sustainability.

Sustainability is one of the 5 values of IYNF. Yet it is sometimes hard to explain what we really mean with this and especially how we implement and live it. By organising this meeting we would like to get more clarity on this field for all involved stakeholders. We want to provide a space to discuss and discover the topic of sustainability, which is an up-to-date topic in general and especially in Naturefriends organisations.

The main themes of the meeting are:

1) sustainability as a concept
2) sustainability in youth work
3) active youth participation and intercultural learning

The key objectives of the meeting are:

1) sharing best practice examples in the fields of sustainability and sustainable youth work
2) discovering how sustainability is directly linked to social justice, economical fairness and political democracy, cultural diversity and peace building skills-education
3)  encouraging creativity and active youth participation in sustainability field
4) capacity building and extending IYNF network towards Baltic states, the Balkans and the Caucasus
5) partnership building and planning for future joint projects

The methodology and main elements of this meeting will consist of various kinds of presentations, workshops and games in the frame of non-formal education and intercultural learning. The participants will have a chance to present their organisations, take part in the workshops, eco creativity evening, eco-city mission, Open Space and project planning.
The meeting will take place in the eco-venue BIOFALU in Máriahalom, 40 km from Budapest. Only vegetarian food will be provided.

Thanks to the kind sponsorhip of Council of Europe, IYNF will be able to fully reimburse the costs of food and accommodation of the delegates. The meeting is co-funded by the Council of Europe, yet doesn’t cover all costs of the meeting. Therefore we would like to ask you to A) keep your travel costs as low as possible and B) contribute to the financing of this meeting by donating part of your travel costs to IYNF.