TIPS For Working with Youth in Community Development Projects

The Role of the Sponsor Agency

The sponsor agency should be a net contributor to the project rather than one looking for ways in which it can benefit. It should play an active role in achieving the project's overall goals without assuming control over the project and the youth members. It is usually expected that the sponsor agency will play the role of "champion" in the project. If not, the youth will look for leadership and advocacy from other sources; if they do not find it, they will often lose interest.

It is hoped that the sponsor agency will be:

• interested in youth issues and mandated to work with youth;
• prepared to become involved as an agency in an official, board-approved way;
• able to include some of the key principles of participation and involvement within its own operation;
• able to provide meeting space at times suitable to the youth;
• able to provide staff time, training and other resources to the group;
• able to make connections with resources on behalf of the group;
• advocating for the project within the service system and the larger community; and
• able to stimulate the group when it gets bogged down.

The sponsor agency also plays a role similar to the funder and the project coordinator: It can provide the following:

• training of youth leaders;
• help in managing the project;
• assistance to the project in developing realistic objectives and workplans;
• mediation when requested;
• credibility for the project within the community;
• ideas;
• connections, resources and support in a timely and helpful way;
• advocacy, when required; and
• easily understood administrative procedures.

Youth must see the sponsor as active and interested participants in the process of change.

The sponsor must use the values of healthy change and youth empowerment in its own operation and with its own clients.