Mission

Formaat is The Flemish Federation of Youth Clubs and centres spreading and reinforcing actively the youth club methodology. We act with the belief in the youths’ self-organisation, creativity, their sense of responsibility and their right to take active part in their society. With our expertise and active commitment we support and encourage the youth clubs and centres as well as their volunteers and assistants in the development of their skills and knowledge concerning youth. The federation cares about the concerns of the youth clubs and centres along with the young people being involved. We stimulate the youth club sector through permanent interaction with our partners and members. Thus, Formaat makes a contribution to strengthen the young peoples’ position in a warm and colourful community.

Vision and main points

Formaat, as a youth club federation, means an appreciation of distributing and strengthening the youth club methodology. One of our aims is that society associates us with that youth club methodology. Due to our knowledge, vast experience and competence we are certainly both an objective and a reliable partner and willing to engage in reasonable cooperation. Formaat wants to create a varied youth club landscape, in which each youth club is unique.

As a coordinating federation, we want to make young people in youth clubs well prepared. In the first place we want to give all of them the knowledge and equipment required to establish and run a youth club in a sound manner. We esteem the young people the way they are and instead of attaching much importance to certificates and diplomas we rather set a high value on the individual competences acquired here or elsewhere.

We address every youth club as an organisation and want to make each of them stronger and more able-bodied within a ever-evolving society. By offering guidance, training, support and protection of interests we are willing to achieve that aim. It is important to us that there is sufficient space within our offers for the youth clubs to learn from each other. We try to stimulate unity and solidarity among the youth clubs with respect for each others' individual character. Whenever necessary, we will show a well-defined position putting the youth clubs' interests in the first place.

Youth club methodology is exactly what makes youth club work that unique. Our understanding of youth club methodology is the way young people responsibly establish and run their youth clubs. The pillars of the youth club methodology are that the young people meet, train and even entertain each other. Youth club methodology displays very significant aspects such as approachability, participation, openness or keenness to experiment. Much more important than the product in the end, is the process taking place then in such a youth club.

Youth club work is team work and has a highly pedagogic meaning. Young people learn to cooperate, communicate, discuss, take decisions in a group and bear responsibility as a youth club is a place demanding participation and democracy. By offering a place to experiment young people can raise their competences. With trail and error, by succeeding and failing, young people learn how to assume responsibility and fulfil themselves.

As a federation of youth clubs and youth centres Formaat primarily supports these youth clubs. But before someone wants to join our organisation we have to clarify that Formaat is also carried by the youth clubs themselves. Participation in the federation is a key point when being a member, both in political and pedagogical manner. We are not afraid to adapt our work to relevant questions submitted by our members.

We want to make young people experts.

A youth club is both there for and made by young people. A youth club must be accessible for every young person, regardless of his race, sex, sexual orientation or religious denomination. A youth club can only keep going when the young people assume the necessary responsibility. Those responsible young people are mainly between 16 and 25 years old. Minor variations in both directions are possible but demand a specific approach.

Formaat puts pluralism first.

As a federation we unite almost 400 youth clubs and youth centres. Each initiative is unique in its functioning, target group, offers and principles. That's why we want to show our respect for that pluralism and diversity since we think that the youth club landscape should be esteemed. We encourage every youth club to be self-critical, to question the status quo and to evaluate their work every now and then. This way, Formaat offers another option and replaces stigmatisation and labelling with tolerance and respect.