Education is a transformative process that extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge, fundamentally reshaping an individual’s relationship with themselves, others, and the world. In this context, open youth work serves as a vital socio-educational field of practice. Through life-world-oriented and subject-centered educational approaches, open youth work supports young people in developing their identity, navigating adolescent crises, and assuming social responsibility. This article explores the transformative potential of open youth work as a socio-pedagogical educational actor. It draws on the theory of transformative education and is based on a qualitative empirical study that includes participatory observations and focus group discussions with young people in seven youth centers. The study aimed to identify the topics, triggers, and conditions that enable young people in these settings to experience formative and transformative educational processes. The findings of the study emphasize the significance of open youth work’s low-threshold, situational, and flexible educational approaches. These approaches empower young people to overcome developmental challenges, build resilience, and make autonomous decisions—key processes that are often overlooked in formal educational institutions. Particularly notable is the participatory nature of open youth work, which provides young people with safe and supportive spaces to articulate their concerns, reflect on their experiences, and explore their perspectives. In this way, open youth work not only fosters the personal development, well-being, and autonomy of young people but also plays a crucial role in cultivating a resilient and solidaristic society.

教育是一个变革过程，它超越了知识的获取，从根本上重塑了个人与自己、他人和世界的关系。在此背景下，开放的青年工作是一个重要的社会教育实践领域。通过以生活世界为导向和以学科为中心的教育方法，Open Youth Work 支持年轻人发展自己的身份认同、应对青少年危机和承担社会责任。本文探讨了开放青年工作作为社会教育学教育参与者的变革潜力。它借鉴了变革性教育理论，并以定性实证研究为基础，其中包括参与式观察和与七个青年中心的年轻人的焦点小组讨论。该研究旨在确定使这些环境中的年轻人能够经历形成性和变革性教育过程的主题、触发因素和条件。研究结果强调了开放青年工作低门槛、情境化和灵活的教育方法的重要性。这些方法使年轻人能够克服发展挑战、建立适应力并做出自主决策——这些关键过程在正规教育机构中经常被忽视。特别值得注意的是开放青年工作的参与性，它为年轻人提供了安全和支持性的空间来表达他们的担忧、反思他们的经历并探索他们的观点。通过这种方式，开放的青年工作不仅促进了年轻人的个人发展、福祉和自主性，而且在培养一个有弹性和团结的社会方面也发挥着至关重要的作用。