TIPS For Working with Youth in Community Development Projects

Developing Youth Skills through Group Process

Assigning tasks to youth should be seen as a reward. They will receive respect by having accomplished the task and self-esteem from having learned the skill to do the task.

Training should go along with the tasks assigned, and there should be ongoing coaching until the task is completed. Youth will receive satisfaction by completing the task successfully and develop skills necessary to do the task again.

At the beginning of the group's development, discussion should take place about the role and authority of the group and what is expected of the members. If this discussion leads youth to identify skills they will need, training should be organized as soon as possible.

Project coordinators should build in as much opportunity for the group to make choices as possible. Youth will become more comfortable over time with decision making and exercising real power in the group.

Youth will eventually recognize that they need training to keep the group moving toward its goals. When this happens, arrangements for training should be made, and resources may be required. Flexibility in timing may have to be built into the project proposal so that training can be provided when it is required and not on a strict schedule.

As the group matures, there should be an increase in the complexity of problems which need to be solved by the youth without adult supervision.

When possible, people outside the project should be used to transfer skills to youth. This will get other adults involved in the group and ease the burden on the coordinator.

Formal and informal training should happen early in group development in areas such as how to run a meeting, communication skills, conflict resolution, facilitation skills, public speaking, writing, motivational skills and group dynamics.

Rather than waiting for youth to be "ready" for more complex tasks in the community, trial by fire under a properly coached or tutored situation is often the best approach to group skill building.

Wherever possible, have youth train other youth.

Encourage the process of "learn it, do it, teach it."

Developing Youth Leadership within the Group

Adults must provide initial leadership for the group. As youth become more skilled and confident in the duties and responsibilities of leadership, responsibility can be given to the adult/youth partnership.

Adult members must learn the importance of seeing youth leadership as a process where the means are as important as the ends.

It is not realistic to expect all youth to take on leadership roles within the group. The coordinator should identify natural leaders among the youth, train them in leadership skills and gradually develop their leadership responsibility.

Potential youth leaders should be encouraged to take on more responsibility for running meetings and developing group facilitation skills. This can be accomplished through mentoring, role modelling and training. Some of the leadership skills required include the following:

• how to encourage participation,
• conflict mediation,
• how to relieve tension in the group,
• how to help others communicate through feedback,
• active listening and rewording what was said,
• measuring the emotional climate of the group,
• what to look for in group process and group growth, and
• how to build trust.

It may be helpful to have youth work in pairs, or have a youth paired with an adult when developing group leadership skills.