Youth empowerment
Encyclopedia
Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults.
Youth empowerment is often addressed as a gateway to intergenerational equity
, civic engagement
and democracy building
. Many local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international government agencies and nonprofit community-based organizations provide programs centered on youth empowerment. Activities involved therein may focus on youth-led media
, youth rights
, youth council
s, youth activism
, youth involvement in community decision-making, and other methods.
, the Democrats
, and the Green Party, as well as many major European, African, South American (Peru), and Australian political parties have statements supporting youth empowerment. Youth empowerment is also a central tenet of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child
, which every country in the world (minus the U.S. and Somalia) has signed into law.
Tithe Youth - Quota Youth Act
This initiative (in spanish DIEZMO JUVENIL) won the competitions for Best Practices in Youth IADB - UNESCO (Latin America and the Caribbean), and World Bank Good Practice (Andean and Central American Countries) both in 2009.
Since 2001, Christian Pardo Reyes and Internacional Juvenil (IJ) had developed a series of proposals and publications, on issues that young people had access to the institutions of power. These ideas are called "Tithe Youth."
It was explained the need to adopt a Quota Youth Act to "balance" in some way the situation of young people from adults. It required at least 10% of young people on the lists of candidates.
The "Tithe Youth" was made in Peru with the Act that promotes youth participation in the lists of candidates for councils (council) at the municipal level, Act No. 28869, August 2006. Then he passed the Act No. 29470 which recognizes at least 20% of young people in regional councilors lists (sub-national level). They are unique in its genre.
The "Tithe Youth" is now a public policy that seeks to strengthen the democratic system with the effective involvement of young people at all levels of government, both in the places where decisions are made in government and public administration, implementing meritocratic criteria, and also encouraging active youth participation in government and social audit.
Ecuador
s, at schools, through youth organizations, government policy-making and community organizing
campaigns. Major structural activities where youth empowerment happens throughout society include community decision-making, organizational planning, and education reform.
Educational activities that cite youth empowerment as an aim include student-centered learning, popular education
, and service learning. Free schools and youth-led media
organizations often state their intention to empower youth, as well as youth voice
, community youth development
, and youth leadership
programs. Youth empowerment is studied by a variety of scholars including Shawn Ginwright
, Henry Giroux
, Barry Checkoway
and Mike Males. Their research is highlighted by advocacy from notable activists such as William Upski Wimsatt
, Alex Koroknay-Palicz
, Salome Chasnoff and Adam Fletcher
.
have all signed up to the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (2007–2015). The Plan of Action underpins the work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme
(CYP). On the Commonwealth definition, "Young people are empowered when they acknowledge that they have or can create choices in life, are aware of the implications of those choices, make an informed decision freely, take action based on that decision and accept responsibility for the consequences of those actions. Empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling conditions under which young people can act on their own behalf, and on their own terms, rather than at the direction of others."
The Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment was developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat
, working closely with Ministers of Youth and young people themselves. It encourages youth mainstreaming
and contains thirteen action points for governments. The first of these is: “Develop and implement measures to promote the economic enfranchisement of young people” through a range of measures ranging from micro-credit and entrepreneurship education through to reviewing macro-economic planning and trade regimes and how they affect young people. Other action points address gender equality, HIV/AIDS, education, the environment, youth participation in decision-making, and democracy and human rights.
Youth empowerment is often addressed as a gateway to intergenerational equity
Intergenerational equity
Intergenerational equity in economic, psychological, and sociological contexts, is the concept or idea of fairness or justice in relationships between children, youth, adults and seniors, particularly in terms of treatment and interactions. It has been studied in environmental and sociological...
, civic engagement
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
and democracy building
Democracy building
Democracy building is the process of building and strengthening democracy, in particular the consolidation of democratic institutions, including courts of law, police forces and constitutions....
. Many local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international government agencies and nonprofit community-based organizations provide programs centered on youth empowerment. Activities involved therein may focus on youth-led media
Youth-led media
Youth-led media is any effort created, planned, implemented, and reflected upon by young people in the form of media, including websites, newspapers, television shows and publications.-Movement:...
, youth rights
Youth rights
Youth rights refers to a set of philosophies intended to enhance civil rights for young people. They are a response to the oppression of young people, with advocates challenging ephebiphobia, adultism and ageism through youth participation, youth/adult partnerships, and promoting, ultimately,...
, youth council
Youth council
Youth councils are a form of youth voice engaged in community decision-making. Youth councils exist on local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international levels among governments, NGOs, schools, and other entities.-About:...
s, youth activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
, youth involvement in community decision-making, and other methods.
Political action
Each major political party in the United States, including the RepublicansRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and the Green Party, as well as many major European, African, South American (Peru), and Australian political parties have statements supporting youth empowerment. Youth empowerment is also a central tenet of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
, which every country in the world (minus the U.S. and Somalia) has signed into law.
Latin America
PeruTithe Youth - Quota Youth Act
This initiative (in spanish DIEZMO JUVENIL) won the competitions for Best Practices in Youth IADB - UNESCO (Latin America and the Caribbean), and World Bank Good Practice (Andean and Central American Countries) both in 2009.
Since 2001, Christian Pardo Reyes and Internacional Juvenil (IJ) had developed a series of proposals and publications, on issues that young people had access to the institutions of power. These ideas are called "Tithe Youth."
It was explained the need to adopt a Quota Youth Act to "balance" in some way the situation of young people from adults. It required at least 10% of young people on the lists of candidates.
The "Tithe Youth" was made in Peru with the Act that promotes youth participation in the lists of candidates for councils (council) at the municipal level, Act No. 28869, August 2006. Then he passed the Act No. 29470 which recognizes at least 20% of young people in regional councilors lists (sub-national level). They are unique in its genre.
The "Tithe Youth" is now a public policy that seeks to strengthen the democratic system with the effective involvement of young people at all levels of government, both in the places where decisions are made in government and public administration, implementing meritocratic criteria, and also encouraging active youth participation in government and social audit.
Ecuador
United States
Youth empowerment occurs in homeHome
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
s, at schools, through youth organizations, government policy-making and community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
campaigns. Major structural activities where youth empowerment happens throughout society include community decision-making, organizational planning, and education reform.
Educational activities that cite youth empowerment as an aim include student-centered learning, popular education
Popular education
Popular education is a concept grounded in notions of class, political struggle, and social transformation. The term is a translation from the Spanish educación popular or the Portuguese educação popular and rather than the English usage as when describing a 'popular television program,' popular...
, and service learning. Free schools and youth-led media
Youth-led media
Youth-led media is any effort created, planned, implemented, and reflected upon by young people in the form of media, including websites, newspapers, television shows and publications.-Movement:...
organizations often state their intention to empower youth, as well as youth voice
Youth voice
Youth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...
, community youth development
Community youth development
Community youth development, or CYD, is a philosophy emphasizing the uniquely symbiotic nature of youth development to community development by situating the two practices in a common framework...
, and youth leadership
Youth leadership
Youth leadership is the practice of teens exercising authority over themselves or others.Youth leadership has been eleborated upon as a theory of youth development in which young people gain skills and knowledge necessary to lead civic engagement, education reform and community organizing activities...
programs. Youth empowerment is studied by a variety of scholars including Shawn Ginwright
Shawn Ginwright
Shawn A. Ginwright is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University and author. A nationally renowned expert in youth development, youth activism and youth engagement, In 2004, he joined the faculty at San Francisco State University where he works with students,...
, Henry Giroux
Henry Giroux
Henry Giroux, born September 18, 1943, in Providence, Rhode Island, is an American cultural critic. One of the founding theorists of critical pedagogy in the United States, he is best known for his pioneering work in public pedagogy, cultural studies, youth studies, higher education, media studies,...
, Barry Checkoway
Barry Checkoway
Barry Checkoway is a Professor of Social Work and Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Checkoway is internationally renowned for his contributions to the field of youth studies, particularly focusing on community youth development...
and Mike Males. Their research is highlighted by advocacy from notable activists such as William Upski Wimsatt
William Upski Wimsatt
William Wimsatt, also known as Billy or Upski is a social entrepreneur, author, political organizer, and former graffiti artist...
, Alex Koroknay-Palicz
Alex Koroknay-Palicz
Alex Koroknay-Palicz is an American activist in Washington, D.C. He is currently the executive director of the National Youth Rights Association.-Biography:Koroknay-Palicz was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and grew up in Holland, Michigan...
, Salome Chasnoff and Adam Fletcher
Adam Fletcher (activist)
Adam Fletcher is a leading advocate, author, motivational speaker, and educator focused on youth voice and student engagement, recognized for founding The Freechild Project. His work centers on youth studies, critical thinking and the development of democratic society, and has been acknowledged as...
.
Republic of Ireland
In 2002 Comhairle na nÓg was established in each local authority area as part of the National Children's strategy. It is run by the local county council under the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. It is a recognized political organisation by the Irish Government.Commonwealth
The 53 member countries of the Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
have all signed up to the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (2007–2015). The Plan of Action underpins the work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme
Commonwealth Youth Programme
The Commonwealth Youth Programme, also known as CYP, is an international development agency working with young people between the ages of 15 and 29. Part of the Commonwealth Secretariat, CYP is active in the Commonwealth's 54 member countries...
(CYP). On the Commonwealth definition, "Young people are empowered when they acknowledge that they have or can create choices in life, are aware of the implications of those choices, make an informed decision freely, take action based on that decision and accept responsibility for the consequences of those actions. Empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling conditions under which young people can act on their own behalf, and on their own terms, rather than at the direction of others."
The Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment was developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
, working closely with Ministers of Youth and young people themselves. It encourages youth mainstreaming
Youth mainstreaming
Youth mainstreaming is a public policy concept. The Commonwealth of Nations describes it in this context:It is modeled on gender mainstreaming, which the United Nations defined in the 1990s as:-Strategy:...
and contains thirteen action points for governments. The first of these is: “Develop and implement measures to promote the economic enfranchisement of young people” through a range of measures ranging from micro-credit and entrepreneurship education through to reviewing macro-economic planning and trade regimes and how they affect young people. Other action points address gender equality, HIV/AIDS, education, the environment, youth participation in decision-making, and democracy and human rights.
See also
- List of youth empowerment organizations
- :Category:Youth empowerment individuals
- One World Youth ProjectOne World Youth ProjectOne World Youth Project is a non-profit 501 corporation founded in Massachusetts and currently based in Washington DC. The goal of One World Youth Project is to enhance education towards a more discerning, empathetic and empowered generation of global citizens...
- Youth workYouth workIn the United Kingdom youth work is the process of creating an environment where young people can engage in informal educational activities. Different varieties of youth work include centre-based work, detached work, school-based work and religion based work....
- Mature minor doctrineMature minor doctrineThe mature minor doctrine is a statutory, regulatory, or common law policy accepting that an unemancipated minor patient may possess the maturity to choose or reject a particular health care treatment, sometimes without the knowledge or agreement of parents, and should be permitted to do so...