Policy legal framework

Youth work in Slovakia is formally recognized and supported through both legislative and strategic instruments. The State plays a key role in creating a supportive environment for youth work, which is primarily delivered by non-governmental organizations and community-based providers.

Main Legal and Strategic Documents

• Act No. 282/2008 Coll. on Support of Youth Work: Establishes youth work as a public interest activity and defines its scope, target groups, and eligible providers.
• Strategy of the Slovak Republic for Youth 2021–2028: Chapter 3 of this strategy is dedicated to youth work and leisure time, outlining its role in empowering young people and supporting their development.

Main Objectives and Principles

• Empower young people and support their transition to adulthood.
• Provide safe spaces for non-formal learning, community engagement, and personal growth.
• Develop key competences: civic, personal, professional, and entrepreneurial.
• Prevent social exclusion, radicalization, and socio-pathological phenomena.
• Promote democratic values and social inclusion.

Domains of Youth Work

• Non-formal education and lifelong learning.
• Social inclusion and prevention of marginalization.
• Volunteering and civic engagement.
• Leisure-time activities, including sports, arts, and peer-led initiatives.

Types of Activities Recognized

• Educational and developmental programs.
• Recreational and leisure-time activities.
• Volunteering and community service.
• Outreach and street-based youth work.

Categories of Youth Work Providers

• Youth organizations and civic associations.
• Leisure-time centers (CVČ), regional youth centers (RCM), and community centers.
• Volunteer centers and informal youth groups.
• Local and regional governments.

Target Groups

• All young people aged 0–30, but mostly 13-30.
• Special attention to:
  • Youth with fewer opportunities (e.g. socio-economically disadvantaged).
  • Young people from rural or marginalized communities.
  • Young migrants and refugees.
  • Youth at risk of social exclusion or radicalization.

Funding

Youth work in Slovakia is supported through a combination of national, regional, and European funding mechanisms. These resources are primarily directed toward non-governmental providers such as youth organizations, leisure-time centers, and community-based initiatives.

Youth work in Slovakia is supported through a multi-tiered system of public funding, combining national budget allocations, regional and local resources, and European Union programmes. The funding framework is designed to support both institutional development and project-based activities, with a focus on inclusion, participation, and non-formal education.

Main Sources of Public Funding

National Youth Work Support Grant Scheme
The most direct and significant funding mechanism is the grant scheme administered by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. It supports:

• Youth organizations and civic associations,
• Providers of youth information and counselling services,
• Research and analytical projects in the youth field,
• Development of local youth policies and capacity-building of municipalities.
• Funding is allocated annually through open calls based on predefined criteria. More information is available at: https://www.minedu.sk/financovanie-prace-s-detmi-a-mladezou

State Budget via the System of Parity Taxes
Municipalities and regional governments receive funding through shared tax revenues. Local authorities are responsible for children up to 15 years of age, while regional authorities oversee youth aged 15–18. These funds are not earmarked specifically for youth work; their allocation depends on local priorities. Leisure-time centers and youth clubs are often financed through this system, supplemented by membership fees and education vouchers.

European Union Programmes: Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps
EU programmes provide substantial support for youth work in Slovakia. Erasmus+ funds youth exchanges, mobility of youth workers, strategic partnerships, and policy development. The European Solidarity Corps supports volunteering and solidarity projects. These programmes prioritize inclusion and support for young people with fewer opportunities.

Other Sources
Additional funding may come from European Structural and Investment Funds, private foundations, corporate sponsorships, and local fundraising initiatives. These sources are typically project-specific and vary in availability. A notable example from the past was the KOMPRAX project (2011–2015), funded by the European Social Fund.

Conditions and Requirements for Funding

• National Grant Scheme: Applicants must meet criteria defined in the Act on Youth Work Support, including legal status, alignment with national youth policy goals, and capacity to implement youth work activities.
• Parity Tax System: Allocation is determined by self-governments based on local strategies and needs. The state provides a general framework, but implementation and quality assurance are local responsibilities.
• EU Programmes: Each Key Action under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps has specific eligibility criteria. Priority is given to projects involving young people with fewer opportunities.

Types of Activities and Target Groups Supported

• Activities: Non-formal education, volunteering, leisure-time activities, youth participation, counselling, and outreach work.
• Target Groups: All young people aged 13–30, with special attention to those facing social, economic, or geographic disadvantage, including youth from marginalized communities, ethnic minorities, and rural areas.

Cooperation

Cooperation among stakeholders in the field of youth work in Slovakia is supported through various formal and informal mechanisms. Civil society organizations, including youth associations and confessional organizations, are actively involved in policy-making and implementation through their participation in the Committee for Children and Youth, the Inter-ministerial Working Group for Youth Policy, and other operational working groups. They are also members of the Expert Advisory Group on Youth Work coordinated by the National Institute of Education and Youth.

Civil society organizations collaborate among themselves through several umbrella platforms that represent specific segments of youth work. These include the Slovak Youth Council (Rada mládeže Slovenska), the Association of Volunteer Centres and Organizations, the Association of Youth Information and Counselling Centres, the Association of Leisure-Time Centres, the Association of Low-Threshold Programs for Children and Youth, and the Association of Regional Youth Councils (AKRAM). These platforms play a key role in coordination, advocacy, and sharing of good practices.

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education and Youth organize annual meetings with grant-supported organizations, as well as thematic events and consultations. Regional coordinators of the Institute provide direct support, information, and guidance to youth work providers across the country.