Globallove Youth Trust (Wales, UK) & Center for

Intercultural Dialogue (MK) – Youth in Action

Programme: Action 3.1

Youth Participation &

Youth in Poverty A Facilitation Handbook

Kevin Work, Aziz Choudhury, Bob Smeets, Suhaib Ahmed, Andy

Shammo & Roman Mpire

“ACTive YOUth!!!” 16th

-23rd

of June 2013

Mavrovo, Macedonia

Youth in action Programme: Action 3.1 Seminar

Youth in Poverty

List of obstacles that can affect youth participation of Youth in

Poverty:

1. Basic human needs (shelter, food and security):

Without basic needs of proper shelter, food and security,

youth would find it difficult to participate in any activity

outside retaining the basic needs of life.

See Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs)

2. Transportation: the costs, availability and quality of transport

are issues facing youth.

3. Financial Difficulties: lack of consistent revenue to the individuals and to the

communities in which they live

i. Individual level: without enough financial ability, individuals

cannot spend their time participating when they could be

working to make money

ii. Community level: when a community lacks equitable funding for

programs and community wellness opportunities, it makes it

very difficult for individuals to participate.

4. Lack of Education: puts them at a disadvantage because the youth are unable

to access the relative services.

5. Cultural Differences/Influences:

i. The young people may be held back by their varied upbringing

which could cause a form of segregation

ii. With different cultures and belief systems, the individual may be

less inclined to participate in activities which may be ‘culturally

different’

“ACTive YOUth!!!” 16th

-23rd

of June 2013

Mavrovo, Macedonia

Youth in action Programme: Action 3.1 Seminar

6. Unstable Households: the domestic background of the individual can affect

their eagerness to get involved in the community; for example, the influence of

parents may lead to a lack of participate.

7. Risk of Criminal Behaviour: in areas of poverty youth are more prone to the

opportunity for criminal activities. Also, financial/social reasoning’s may also

force the youth to become involved in the wrong circles and thereby lead to a

life of dangerous situations.

8. Means of Communication: without any money for communication means, the

youth will become isolated from the rest of the community.

9. Health:

i. Physical: If an individual lacks physical health, they will be less

likely to participate.

ii. Psychological Hindrances (Self Esteem, Mental Issues)

If there is an issue of low self-esteem or any other mental

instabilities, it would be difficult to engage the youth to

participate.

10. Substance Abuse: Alcohol, Drugs, etc.

“ACTive YOUth!!!” 16th

-23rd

of June 2013

Mavrovo, Macedonia

Youth in action Programme: Action 3.1 Seminar

List of preconditions that encourage your participation:

1. Motivation/Desire for change: through participation, the youth can

create the chance for an improved life. Also, they would have the

opportunity to follow their passions, hobbies, dreams.

2. Opportunity to have a voice: The youth would have the ability to share

their concerns with a collective group of like-minded individuals to

impact the decision making process.

3. Positive Reinforcement: In order to give the youth insight and courage,

there needs to be real life examples which they can relate to. In this

way, we can show them with a possible positive reality for their future.

Locals which faced similar issues as the youths and achieved positive

outcomes through their lifestyles could be a significant impact on the

participation of the youth.

4. Financial Support: The youth would be encouraged to be involved in

areas in which they would not have entered in the past. By funding

opportunities to get cheap/free transport/facilities, it could make a

significant difference on youth participation.

5. Stable Shelter/day centre: If the individuals are provided something by

society to better their lives, those individuals would be more prone to

give back to the society which helped them.

Shelter: By offering the opportunity to have a safe and consistent

housing situation, the youth would have more time/thought to

participate in activities.

Day Center: It would offer the youth the space/opportunity to openly

participate/develop themselves without being held back by the other

sectors of the society.

6. Trustful Leadership: If the youth had a mentor/leader which they not

only trust but also admire, the youth would be more likely to

follow the lead of that individual to

participate more frequently.

“ACTive YOUth!!!” 16th

-23rd

of June 2013

Mavrovo, Macedonia

Youth in action Programme: Action 3.1 Seminar

List of solutions for overcoming obstacles and challenges to

participation:

1. Tools:

o Creating a consistent schedule for youth

o Create an opportunity for self-reliant transportation

o Work programs

o Motivation speakers

o Multilingual youth workers

o Safe and Consistent Shelter

Also, encourage the development of a day centre

o Have health based workshops

o Part time mental-health service worker to visit the centre

o Open forums for discussion

2. Tips:

o Foster an understanding of cultural differences

o Provide basic-prepaid cell phones for those in need (for security

issues)

3. Tricks:

o Provide bus passes (if available)

4. Communication:

o Encourage a continuous dialogue

5. Methods:

o Provide stable and positive youth leaders

o Involve parents to encourage education

o Conversation Classes

o Youth led activities

Sport based interaction/development

o Hold public events to encourage awareness and dialogue

o Outreach-services for those without transportation

o Opportunity to hold events to encourage personal development

Authors:

Kevin Work (USA & Macedonia), Aziz Choudhury (UK), Bob Smeets

(Netherlands), Suhaib Ahmed (UK), Andy Shammo (Netherlands) and Roman

Mpire (Netherlands)