As a response to the unprecedented circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Agencia Catalana de la Joventut (Catalan Youth Agency) has created a set of guides dedicated to supporting young people and youth workers during these difficult times.

The guides are titled "How to find meaning in it", and their goal is to provide support to young people and those working with young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guides were published at the beginning of April. Since then, the publications have been downloaded by hundreds of young people and professionals in Catalonia. Originally the guides were produced in Catalan but given their success, ACJ decided to make them available in English, French and Spanish.

The guides include several recommendations to cope with the lockdown and suggestions to contribute to keeping a positive attitude during the current circumstances.

In words of the Director-General of Youth of Catalonia, Laia Girós, "the guides aim to accompany young people and, above all, to help them turn the psychological difficulties linked to the lockdown into a pedagogical and learning opportunity for life." "We must keep in mind" - Girós added - "that confinement brings out young people's fears, insecurities and anxieties on top of their usual ones." On a positive note, she noted that the current circumstances could be taken as an opportunity for embracing self-knowledge and personal growth.

"In these difficult moments it is necessary to continue collecting good practices in the field of youth through European and international platforms, in which we are proud to be active contributors". - Francesc Poch, General Director of the Catalan Youth Agency (ACJ)

Additionally, ACJ has set up a youth psychological support service. By the time this article was written, there have been over 300 consultations regarding issues related to studies, relationships, cohabitation and personal experiences throughout the confinement. Furthermore, a counselling service on housing for young people has already had more than 350 consultations.

To conclude, the guides have been included in the UNESCO list of best practices implemented to support young people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

You can access the guides in the links below:

• CAT- Com trobar-hi sentit for youth

• CAT- Com trobar-hi sentit for youth workers

• EN- How to find meaning in it for youth

• EN- How to find meaning in it for youth workers

• ES- Démosle sentido for youth

• ES- Démosle sentido for youth workers

• FR- Quel sens donner a tout cela? for youth

• FR- Quel sens donner a tout cela? for youth workers