Information providers/counselling structures

In Portugal, information and counselling on non‑formal and informal learning and quality youth work are mainly provided by public youth authorities, youth organisations, and local actors. The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) plays a central role by disseminating information on youth programmes, learning opportunities, volunteering, and youth work initiatives at national and European level.

IPDJ provides guidance through its network of regional services, youth information centres, and online platforms, as well as through cooperation with municipal youth services and youth organisations. These structures inform young people about opportunities for participation, volunteering, mobility, and youth work, and about the recognition of competences acquired through non‑formal and informal learning, including skills relevant for employability and active citizenship.

Youth organisations and civil society bodies complement this role by offering peer‑to‑peer counselling, mentoring, and project‑based support, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities. At European level, information and counselling are further strengthened through Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, with IPDJ acting as the National Authority and actively promoting access to these programmes.

Awareness raising initiatives

Awareness‑raising about the value of non‑formal and informal learning and quality youth work is promoted in Portugal through campaigns, events, training activities, and policy‑related initiatives at national, regional, and local levels.

Concrete examples include:

• National youth events and conferences, promoted or supported by IPDJ, which bring together young people, youth workers, policymakers, and researchers to discuss youth participation, youth work quality, and the impact of non‑formal learning;
• The Youth Summit (2025), organised by IPDJ, which contributed to public debate on youth participation, policy development, and the recognition of youth work;
• Training courses and seminars for youth workers, focusing on quality development, non‑formal learning methodologies, and competence recognition, often supported through Erasmus+ Youth;
• Volunteering programmes, such as “Voluntariado Jovem para a Natureza e Florestas”, which highlight the learning outcomes and skills developed through volunteering experiences;
• Awareness‑raising actions linked to European initiatives, including activities connected to the European Youth Work Agenda, promoting shared understanding, quality standards, and professional recognition of youth work.

Through participation in European projects, peer‑learning activities, and transnational cooperation, Portuguese stakeholders further contribute to increasing awareness among institutions, practitioners, and young people of the educational and social value of non‑formal and informal learning and quality youth work.