4 www.digital-youth.eu Digital Youth Work Digital youth work means proactively using or addressing digital media and technology in youth work. The digital age can succeed in creating great new employment opportunities for young people.As we approach the year 2030, developing digital competencies has become increasingly important for professional success. These include generic skills such as conducting internet searches, communicating online via email or instant messaging services, using online career platforms, and understanding digital financial services. In the future, tens of millions of jobs will require much more advanced digital skills, for example, coding, software and application development, network management, machine learning, cyber security, etc. Therefore, digital professionals should consciously seek to apply better-targeted strategies in programme design to help young people succeed in high quality digital jobs. In order to participate meaningfully in society and the workplace, young people must have the skills and opportunities necessary to advance their vision of a connected future. While young people are often considered to be "digital natives", in practice, most may lack the digital skills needed in the workplace for certain jobs. Current Status of Digital Youth Work in Cyprus In Cyprus, there is a communication gap between digitally excluded and digitally literate people in both the public and private sectors. There is a need for youth workers to acquire essential digital skills or competencies, because if they do not acquire these, they may succeed in losing connectivity and influence on young people, especially those with physical or mental difficulties, or even those residing in geographically isolated areas. Therefore, digitally competent youth workers in Cyprus are committed to promoting and ensuring the civic participation of young people. And to train key points of competences and digital literacies in youth organisations, youth workers and policy makers. Current Status of Digital Youth Work in Greece In Greece, the importance of face-to-face teaching and relationships in working with young people is highlighted. Many youth workers carry out their work in different and unusual environments and offer different opportunities to different target groups. It is felt that while online, project-based activities can be a great opportunity, it does not offer the connection that face-to-face communication can offer. For youth workers in Greece, the environment that young people choose to interact in can greatly influence their relationships, so it is essential to allow young people to immerse themselves in experiences, try new things, and experiment.
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