The digitalization is a transformation process, changing the way people act and interact. Consequently, the skills needed at a personal and professional live need to be in line with these new changes. To support this transition and to close the current gap between the skills needed and the ones that are still being taught in our educational system, prioritising and promoting quality youth work.

According to a recent report EU report (2018 Digital Action Plan, 2017 New Skills Agenda, 2018 Renewed Key Competences) young people lack of high-tech digital skills and competences that will allow them to enter the labour market as professional workers. The educational system has deal with digitalisation and ICT focusing for too long purely on computer literacy, which has led us to worrying figures, such as up to 40% of employers not being able to find people with the skills they need to carry out their jobs. The whole formal education system has recently been questioned about its leading role in preparing students to handle the digital needs of the jobs of tomorrow. And, this situation gets even worst if we pay attention to young people with fewer opportunities, especially girls aged 16 to 22.

For these and many more reasons, we believe it is urgent to improve Europe’s current educational offer, taking advantage of the power and utility of non-formal education, to promote digital acquisition, to upgrade the quality of digital skills teaching to young people and to support educators and youth workers in the acquisition, monitoring, assessment and validation of high-tech digital skills  to be fully equipped to deal with the digital challenges of the labour market.

We also believe it is urgent to create synergies between youth organizations, schools and the business sector to bridge the skills gap between education and the labour market. Young people need new opportunities to participate in the social and labour market, in this digital era, and they cannot do so without our help in providing them quality educational opportunities to learn about digital media and new technologies and tools. All these is fundamental for them to be an active part of the society; the time has come to make a change… it's time to ACT! 

Sign this petition if you BELIEVE that:
-the acquisition of high-tech digital skills is a right for young people;
-young people, especially those of less opportunities, should have access to more opportunities on upgrading their digital skills;
- youth work should be acknowledged as an important part of the educational chain and stand out for its quality and competence.

This initiative will help us not only setting up DIGITAL CLUBS & LABS addressed to young generations to deepen their high-teach digital skills (coding/robotics, 3D design and manufacturing, social media marketing, game design, etc.) but also strengthen the profile of Youth Workers and to develop strategies and methodologies of youth work in this field to have an impact on this problem.

Sign the petition if you believe in the value of the open non-formal education as a tool for the youngsters' participation and empowerment!