Toward Understanding Potentials, Limits and Challenges of Cooperation between Youth Work and Schools during the Pandemic.

A widespread warning has been issued around the globe by international organisations concerning the impact of the pandemic on young people (e.g., United Nations, OECD). Concerns have been expressed for a possible lockdown generation particularly exposed to unemployment, more uncertain life trajectories and lesser wellbeing. From a sociological perspective, the resilience of the education system to the pandemic disaster should not be viewed as a process deployed to restore past equilibria, but as the chance to activate new processes of reflective learning and innovation in order to limit potential damage and take advantage of opportunities. The paper presents preliminary research into how these challenges would be more effectively faced through enhanced cooperation between the youth work sector and the school system. The aim is to identify and discuss the main potentials, limits and issues challenging joint models of intervention based on the continuum between formal, non-formal and informal education/learning. In conclusion, the paper discusses new possible research directions on cooperation between youth work and schools in the face of the immediate and long-term impact of the pandemic.