At the heart of the two-day Partners Meeting was the dialogue between diverse stakeholder groups, with a special emphasis on the active role of young people. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 289 million young people worldwide are neither in employment, education, nor training – with those lacking family support particularly at risk.
Since 2017, YouthCan! has aimed to support disadvantaged youth in their transition to the world of work. The programme is built on the strength of partnerships: in 2023 alone, 282 partners from business, government, and civil society engaged across the globe. A total of 17,800 young people were reached through the support of 1,758 volunteers in 50 countries. The approach combines mentoring, the development of soft and technical skills, and first work experiences. Workshops bring together corporate employees and young people to exchange insights and provide hands-on learning opportunities. YouthCan! is implemented at the local level and tailored to the needs of both the individual and the local labour market.
This year’s Partners Meeting focused on sharing experiences, strengthening collective learning, and aligning the partnership strategically for the future. Partnerschaften2030 contributed with a practice-oriented workshop format introducing the basics of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSP). In small groups, participants stepped into the roles of other stakeholder groups and explored their respective strengths, challenges, and perspectives in a playful and creative way – laying the foundation for meaningful collaboration.
One of the key highlights was the active involvement of young people: they were not just participants, but co-creators – both within the workshop and as members of the Youth Councils that guide the partnership strategically. Their voices played a vital role in shaping the goals for key focus areas including youth entrepreneurship, digital skills, green jobs, mental health, and gender equality and inclusion.
Partnerschaften2030 supported the session design and contributed to strengthening a collaborative mindset and practice among all stakeholders. The YouthCan! Partners Meeting stands as a vibrant example of effective cooperation in an MSP – driven by open dialogue, mutual understanding, and a shared goal: to create better future opportunities for young people worldwide.
