TIPS For Working with Youth in Community Development Projects

The Role of Outside Resource People and Consultants

Some of the same qualities that are needed in the project coordinator are also required in any outside resource people brought into the project. Outside resource people can perform many of the following functions for the project:

• providing technical information,
• planning and facilitating planning,
• providing information and assistance in project management,
• assisting with problem solving and providing support to the project staff,
• identifying and bringing together other community resources,
• comparing the work of the group with its original goals and objectives,
• collecting data and evaluating the project, and
• connecting the project to political contacts and economic supports.

The outside resource people should work toward the development of project independence and not create a dependent relationship between themselves and the project.

Project coordinators should know the difference between those skills and resources that should come from the group and those that should be provided by outside resource people. The coordinator should find the balance needed to run the project smoothly within the available resources.

When an external evaluation is required, evaluators should be introduced into the project as soon as the goals and objectives have been set.

The Role of Project Funders

Building a good relationship between the funder and the actual or potential project groups is important in making the project a reality. Funders should make frequent contacts with the groups, connecting them to information, other groups and additional resources.

Regular check points should be set to know that the group is developing as proposed.

Where appropriate, funders should be involved at the beginning of a project in assisting the group in project design.

Funders should recognize that community development projects involving youth are time consuming, labour intensive and require long-term commitment.

Funders can assist projects and communities in the following ways:

• setting in place the broader intervention in which each project is only a part,
• maintaining the overall vision,
• assisting with networking among projects,
• providing the projects with technical assistance, and
• advocating on behalf of the project with other stakeholders and funders.

Funding should be flexible so that the project can take advantage of opportunities (like training) when they arise.