TIPS For Working with Youth in Community Development Projects

Organizing and Managing the Project

It is very important to provide time at the beginning of the project for trust building and skill development. The group should become a community within itself. Projects which have a goal where youth are expected to work with the community should be at least 18 months long.

The opportunity for open discussions, dreaming and realistic discussions on solutions to issues is important to youth. Strict concentration on objectives may not meet youth process and participation needs.

Project goals seem better pursued when youth work closely with adults. Adults may think that youth want to function without adult involvement; however, youth will not often seek organizational commitment and community goals on their own.

Successful youth participation programs are designed with the following ideas in mind:

• they involve youth in activities which are challenging and interesting,
• they give youth the training they need,
• they have youth involvement in planning and decision making,
• youth and adults work closely together, and
• there is an opportunity for youth to think critically about their own activities.

A clear sense of direction and role for the project is necessary. Project personnel should develop the skills needed to manage funding, steering committees and, in some cases, their communities, to keep control of their projects and keep their goals on track.

Youth-based organizations should be imaginative and open, encouraging creativity and having honest, realistic discussions about the issues facing them.

Respect for differences and individual values must be part of the group process.

Keeping the membership growing should be an important objective of the group. This objective will bring in new ideas and help to keep the members from becoming too focused on what's happening inside the project. This is particularly important in groups where there may be a high turnover of youth participants.

It is important that new members of the group (particularly youth) get a solid introduction to the group's work before being expected to perform group tasks.

Both adults and youth need to put time and energy into the project to feel that they "own" it. Ask everyone involved in the project to take on jobs that they are able to do with a deadline for completion. Groups are strengthened by members' commitment to the project.

Before any tasks are assigned, provide a good introduction and skill-training session about the task being given. This is particularly necessary for people who may not have the self-confidence to take on a job themselves and work independently.

Extra time and resources will have to be given to maintaining off-site locations in projects that cover a wide geographical area. Identify and select at least two youth from each community, and try to match them with adults and resources from the community they are serving. Project communications will have to be set up so that the off-site locations are kept well-informed and involved.