POST #1 Youth Work

What are the SEVEN 

                    Characteristics of Youth Work ?

1) Education -  Theses are when methods of play and activities are used "it stimulate informal education and learning (page 2).

2) Social-   This is finding activities and things that youth can relate to. Places they want to show up to. Thus they do not feel forced to be here. " young people themselves generally associate with their peer groups and  this provides a useful starting pint for engaging with them" (page 3).

3) Challenges inequality (involvement)-  This is getting a community to come together. We are all one and want to support each other.  Instead of differences tearing us apart, create activities that untie us together. " seek to address power imbalances rather than merely say or do the right things to avoids unlawful discrimination" (page 3).

4) Strengthens youth voices/ Influence-  Today's youth have many options and want to express them but  they need the right environment to do so. It is youth works job to build a positive environment where youth feel safe to express their ideas.  This will allow youth to feel "empowerment, participation, active citizenship and democratic engagement" (page 4).

5) Welfare practice-  This is to get all youth on the same playing page. To give an opportunity of hope. "Welfare interventions designed to address personal or social behaviors and circumstances that limit the opportunities available to young people to flourish" (page 4).

6) Holistic-  Youth need natural ways to solve problems and it is a youth workers job to provide examples of this and to support youth.  Youth and all people have to go though the motions but as youth workers we can provide environments to do so where they are less at risk to fail. "We work primary with young people because they are young" (page 5).

7)  Involvement/Influence-  Youth want to be involved but do not know where to start. Often they need something in common to feel a connection and then they will want to be engaged on their own terms.  By providing the right environment youth work " can make a distinct and positive contribution to the personal and social development of young people" (page 3).

I have personally seen all these values when working my Internship at the YMCA branch I work at. I am currently starting my internship where I will enforce 5210 into the after school program. 510 is something the South County Y has always supported but has never had a staff member to support it. Now, it is time for 5210 to shine.  The educational aspect will be done by the children learning what 5210 means and how to implant it in their lives. They will have a social impact by completing 5210 together. We will face challenge in inequality by all coming from different backgrounds and having different beliefs on what is healthy.  We will strengthen voices by encouraging each other to share our experiences with the program.  Welfare practice comes into place as we will all be in the same after school program and learning the same material about 5210 with the same youth workers surrounding us for support. We will complete a holistic approach by being young, knowing that we can not be healthy all the time and that some foods do not taste good but as youth workers we will provide the students an environment where they will strive to do their best but they will NEVER be punished if they take a step backwards as we are all learning together.  Finally the youth will be involved by participating in 5210 and going home and trying new healthy snacks or telling their friends about the game they played outside instead of watching TV.

*all images were taken from google images*