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1. Historical developments

2. National definition or understanding of Youth Work

Historical developments

Regarding the history of work with and for young people in Portugal, it is important to distinguish, from the outset, a before and an after the 25^th of April 1974 revolution. The revolution established the political process of a modern, democratic state, the background on which the institutions and processes under which we look today at the reality of Portuguese youth and their options, rights, and social status.

As a historical process, these terms and the very notion of “Youth” were subject to a construction and fine-tuning process that is naturally and inextricably intertwined and interpenetrated with the development of the country’s political, economic, social, and cultural contexts.

Finally, the national context has also been a product and producer of influences and questions arising from the recent past of European integration, with the dialogue with Europe being decisive to cover the foundations of public policies for youth and promote changes and transformations.

These characteristics are reflected in the linguistic options that are present in the Portuguese translations of EU documents, where the concept of youth work has been regularly assumed as “socio-educational animation of young people”, and the workers defined as “youth animators”, a narrow view of the broad and rich resonance of the youth landscape in our country.

Since the 19^th century, new pedagogic ideas and methods have been introduced to the formal education context, with characteristics of what is known today as non-formal education (proximity, empowerment, working with marginalised young people, and reforms and criticisms of the educational methodologies). Those movements were under the development of republican ideals, the search for national unity, and the efforts invested in raising the literacy of the public.

Later, after 1936, the country was immersed in a dictatorial political regime, and the work with youth was naturally constrained to the ideas of the regime that also controlled social movements. The “Estado Novo” regime created the “Mocidade Portuguesa” (Portuguese Youth), an organisation inspired by the fascist ideologies prevailing in countries like Spain, Italy, and Germany. Participation in the “Mocidade Portuguesa” was mandatory between ages 7 and 14, and voluntary up to 18 years old, and was focused on promoting traditional moral standards as a vehicle for nurturing and reproducing the political ideology of the regime. The Catholic Church and its institutions were also a decisive element in youth education, in a close thread with the regime and its guiding lines, although with some tensions arising regarding the militaristic path taken by the “Mocidade Portuguesa”, as well as around the organisation and aim of the scouts' movements.

A process of reforms began to take place after 1970, the revolution put an end to the “Mocidade Portuguesa”, and a more cultural, rather than political, as well as more liberal and plural view of youth movements and organisations emerged.

In 1974, the democratic revolution occurred on 25 April and started the democratisation and pluralisation process. Youth rapidly became a priority, and the FAOJ – support fund for youth organisations was created, dedicated to the public organisation and political administration of the youth sector. This would be the ancestor of what is nowadays the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth and the first of a series of reforms for the introduction of new ideas, coming from the socio-cultural animation framework and strongly influenced by the French May of 68.

Later, the Constitution of 1976 would establish youth organisations and movements, and youth rights in its Article 70º.

In the following years, the Youth sector would see a rapid development, widespread and growing political relevance, aiming at the advancement of youth’s aspirations and needs, their empowerment and self-determination.

Some core aspects would be the definition of the scope for the youth concept regarding age and youth organisations, apart from other organisations. The national record of youth organisations (RNAJ) was created, to strengthen an integrated and cross-sectoral youth policy, as well as the National Youth Council, and the sector was established in a direct political position in the decision sphere of the Prime Minister.

The importance of Youth as a political priority remained very high, and the Portuguese Youth Institute (IPJ) was created in 1988.

Meanwhile, the country was opening itself to international cooperation and relationships (EU, UN, the Council of Europe, and so on). It produced important effects and influenced the country’s policies, and some key initiatives took place, like the creation of programmes aimed at the training of youth leaders and youth animators. A more global view on youth was developed, rather than centred on education solely, although aligned with the central concept of non-formal education, with a more decentralised view and a transfer of power to local bodies and regional structures to attend to the regional needs and characteristics of young people.

Since this period, a wide range of programmes emerged in several domains with non-formal education as a central pillar, shaping the concepts mentioned before, in leisure time activities, work camps, health, voluntary service, European programmes, international cooperation, entrepreneurship, environment, and so on.

From 1996 onwards, youth work was strengthened and assumed the complexity of our age, with a reinforcement of the political and civic participation of young people, the growth of youth organisations and movements, the spread of youth hostels, and the consultation and participatory structures for young people (federations of youth associations, local youth councils), offering regular state support to youth activities and new youth programmes and initiatives, increase in training, growing of youth voluntary service, and an intense debate on the notion of professionalisation and recognition of youth work).

The number of youth organisations has remained stable over the last decade, frequently around an average rough number of 1,000 each year, across the territory, including youth organisations, federations of youth organisations, students’ organisations and federations, scouts’ movements, and informal groups.

As for youth workers, following the intense debate and the evolution of public youth policies, and particularly influenced by the European debate, where the two conventions on youth work had a central place - the first youth worker professional profile was published in the National Qualifications Catalogue on 8 December 2015.

This professional is now called “Técnico de Juventude”.

Given the evolution of the youth work concept in Portugal, and with the aim of raising and strengthening youth workers’ skills so that they are better prepared to respond effectively to youth work challenges, in 2024 the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education (ANQEP) began the process of reviewing and updating the youth worker professional profile from level 4 to level 5 (European Qualifications Framework). IPDJ and ANQEP are working together in the process of developing the new, level 5 youth worker professional profile. This new level 5 profile is expected to be published by the end of 2025.

National definition or understanding of youth work

In Portugal, there is no specific legal definition of youth work. The term "work with and for young people" (trabalho com e para jovens) broadly covers interventions involving non-formal education by both private and public institutions for individuals aged 10 to 35. Modern youth policy combines young people as recipients and ensuring their participation and self-determination in the "Youth sector."

Youth work encompasses various practices, including volunteers, youth organisations, scouts, trainers, socio-cultural animators, and civil servants. The first professional profile of a Youth Worker, known as "Técnico de Juventude", was published in the National Qualifications Catalogue on 8 December 2015. This role involves designing, organising, developing, and evaluating projects and activities with and for young people, using non-formal education methodologies to promote citizenship, participation, autonomy, inclusion, and personal development.

The profile was developed with input from youth organisations and aligns with the European youth work portfolio. Since 2015, the profile has been a level 4 EQF standard, allowing professional certification and access to secondary education. However, there is no mandatory requirement for a "Técnico de Juventude" degree to work with young people. Different contexts require specific competences, such as trainers needing a training degree and socio-cultural animators having their own profiles.

Since 2015, 362 youth worker certificates have been issued, averaging 40 per year. This low appeal suggests a need to rethink the training model and support structures. In 2024, the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education (ANQEP) began updating the youth worker profile to level 5 to enhance qualifications and skills, aiming to improve the quality of youth work activities.