Youth Empowerment
While reading, “A World Where Youth Hold the Power” by
Adeola Oredola, I was reminded of the activities we did in class last week on
the different youth development ideologies, Positive Youth Development,
Critical Youth Development and Risk, Resiliency and Prevention. Some programs may focus on one or two,
however, Youth In Action made me think of all three of these ideologies. This program encourages positive youth
development because students are encouraged to be themselves. They are empowered and encouraged to
speak their minds and be whoever they want to be. I think that this can be an approach to risk, resiliency and
prevention. Teaching youth to be
themselves and be comfortable with who they are is in a way, prevention to
me. They may be less likely to
turn to drugs or violence if they have self-esteem.
Youth in the Youth in Action program are also taught that they can make a difference in the
community and the world. They
learn to work with adults as a team to make a change. Adults and youth are considered equals or partners. This leans towards the critical youth
development ideology.
I loved reading this article because it gave me a different
perspective on the importance of family/community. I never grew up in a
struggling community. I was always
encouraged to try my best in school and my teachers and guidance counselors
believed in me. I also grew up
with a very supportive family that helped me along the way. I can’t imagine where I would be today
if I didn’t have that support.
This reading really opened my eyes to how helpful these youth
development programs can be for students who did not grow up with a supportive
family, or community. They can
literally change lives. I think
that it is so important to have a support system, whether it is family, friends
or a program like Youth In Action.
Our society values education. If a student does not have a place where they can go for
support, or to grow as a person, it makes it almost impossible for them to
reach their full potential. I think that developing programs like Youth in Action are
now more important than ever.
Thanks for sharing your own personal connections with the reading! You write, "I can’t imagine where I would be today if I didn’t have that support." I think if you didn't have the support you did, you would have found it in communities, friends, other relationships. Rather than thinking about your imagined self as deficient in having relationships, it might help to think instead of your imagined self having found for strength and key relationships in perhaps a wider circle of people than a nuclear family.
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot to make the connection to positive youth development, critical youth development, and risk and resiliency when I read this, so thank you for reminding me of these connections!
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