War creates extreme changes of conditions and rules and evokes fears and insecurities in people. Adapting to changes and anticipating how things may further change while accepting nothing is certain – becomes a new normal. In such times of crisis two things are happening: there is an immediate reaction to mitigate risks and find new ways to operate in this altered reality and then there is re-evaluation and questioning of the old-new reality and how things are done. It is at such moments that learning is occurring both at the individual and at the systems levels.

I will start from the individual level and reflect on “my story”. It starts with gratefulness. My experience of war has re-affirmed my belief in humanity. I know this has not been the experience of most others affected by war. For me, my life-changing experiences were of people living the values of solidarity, empathy and taking-care of one another. This was regardless of the war-inflicted demands that they succumb towards hate and fear of “the other”. As a young person during the nineties in war-torn Yugoslavia, I was comforted and inspired by such people doing their amazing deeds amidst unspeakable hostilities and against all odds. I learned, by being on receiving end, about the values of humanity. In retrospect, I can say those experiences set me on the path of peacebuilding and youth work. In the aftermath of the conflict I wanted to “give back”. I felt the need to support others affected by ugliness and the brutality of war. None of us engaging with young refugees in the 1990’s and supporting them to make sense of how to move forward in their new environments would have called what we were doing – youth work. Nevertheless, in its essence that is what it was.

THE YOUTH WORK COMMUNITY

This is where the systems level comes in for me. I discovered only a decade or so later that what I was doing has a name and philosophy behind it. That there are tools and resources that could help me better support young people in need (and their families). It was reassuring to learn that what I was intuitively engaging in was also being done by other people. I learned that there is a whole community of practice of youth work across Europe, and that in some places that were also affected by conflict, studies had been made about it. International frameworks also provided opportunities to study youth work. After years of practice I discovered how much there is still to learn and understand. Disappointments on the lack of recognition of youth work in my immediate context are perhaps better left for some other article. But, most importantly, I had my community now and it was international, even if the majority of young people that I engaged with were in my local and regional conflict and post-conflict context.

Youth work is looked at as a potential remedy in almost every crisis. War is not an exception. At the same time, and chronically so, youth work is also undervalued and insufficiently supported to fulfil its basic purpose let alone be the remedy for any crisis. And during war even more so as there are other and more pressing existential needs. Still, in my mind and in my experience, exactly because it is crisis, exactly because of war, it is essential that (young) people are not deprived of support systems. Providing support to others during war is by no means easy. Youth workers are also affected and are having to learn to adapt to the changing reality. The essence of learning consists of reflection and of action based on gained insights. In war you have a chance to learn a lot about your own values. And as youth worker you carry a certain power in relationships with young people which makes your attitudes and behaviors stand out even more in such incomparable times. (Young) people look for role-models, for someone to show the way – how to deal with uncertainties and how to navigate a new reality. However, youth work is not and cannot be a quick fix, and youth workers would benefit from support, learning opportunities and more resources, particularly in times of war in order to be able to more effectively support the young people. At the same time, as new forms of youth work emerge in response to these overwhelming needs, it is essential that these new forms are intentionally sought out, identified, recognised and supported, as much as traditional, structured and already existing ones.

YOTUH WORK IS OFTEN THE ONLY SPACE OFFERING SUPPORT

In war and in the post-conflict context, youth work is often the only space offering young people support and an opportunity to stop, take a breath, recuperate, navigate extremely different contexts, and translate some of their feelings and thoughts into actions. At such times it becomes really clear how every moment is a learning opportunity, how every spot is a good backdrop for meaningful interaction and how important it is to support others while also taking care of yourself. It also becomes essential to understand the importance of offering support even without having all the answers. It is necessary to believe in the capacities of the young people, that they will take what they need from the provided opportunities and build on it further for themselves.

Contra-intuitively, it is in such extremely unfavorable conditions that the need for and potential for cooperation surfaces. It is then when we are realising we can’t do everything on our own, when we accept our limitations and vulnerabilities and when we also rely much more on each-others. That is a huge potential learning moment for youth workers and young people. In the re-shuffling of reality we seem to be in a better position to ease into uncertainties and the challenges of joining forces together for a common goal.

So, youth work in time of war? Yes, it exists and it’s essential as ever. It emerges and evolves into different forms and modalities. It needs recognition and support. It pushes boundaries, reaches out and innovates in impossible conditions. And it makes a difference for young people who are figuring out who they are, what’s happening around them, what they want to do – and finding their value-based community or path to imagining their future and finding their purpose.