Youth Development Work Principles and Practices

This program is designed to introduce you to a range of different approaches to working with young people. You may already have experience of youth work. If so, then you have been working in a wide-ranging and complex field. However, you may have experience of only one type of youth work practice. We have designed this program so that you can get a clear understanding of several of the key practices in youth work. This will enable you to develop your insight and skill by allowing you to draw on a rich frame of reference.

When you successfully complete this program, you should be able to:

• Define Youth Development concept.
• Briefly describe, in your own words, the history and position of youth development work in your country.
• Delineate the professional role of the youth worker.
• Explain the important factors that have affected youth development work and that influence current trends.
• Begin working effectively with young people and adults in enabling them to improve the quality of their lives.
• Select from a range of different approaches to youth development work those that are most appropriate to specific circumstances.

• Youth program coordinators.
• Young leaders.
• Youth workers in government departments, corporates and NGOs.
• School and University teachers.
• Professionals responsible for policy formulation and strategy development in youth focused organizations.

Day 1

Youth Development

What is Youth development? and how does it influence youth work?

Youth Development theories and practivcies

Interactionist perspective - Functional Perspective

Youth Development Values

Enabling - Empowering

Day 2

Youth development work: history and traditions

Youth development work in families and communities

Youth work as social and leisure provision

Out of school education

Youth work for national development

Youth welfare work

Day 3

Youth development work: models and approaches

Treatment Model

Reform Model

Advocacy Model

Conscientisation Model

Youth Development Practices

Day 4

Youth Worker roles and methods

Working face to face with young people in a variety of settings

Managing and supporting other paid and volunteer workers

Formulating and developing community policies for governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)