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)