The importance of youth engagement

What does youth engagement mean?

Youth engagement is the result when young people are involved in responsible, challenging actions to create positive social change. This means involving youth in planning and in making decisions that affect themselves and others. Youth engagement happens in youth-adult partnerships that are structured so that both groups contribute, teach, and learn from each other.

Why is youth engagement important?

Youth engagement is a central principle of youth development. According to the ecological perspective of human development, young people are agents of their own development. Youth are more than passive recipients of external influences; instead they are actively involved in shaping their development by interacting with the people and opportunities made available within their environments. Through youth engagement, communities can do a better job of creating the services, opportunities, and supports that young people need to develop in healthy ways. Youth engagement offers community leaders the expertise and partnership of young people, helping adults fully understand what it is like to grow up in a rapidly changing world. From a political point of view, youth engagement is important because young people deserve the right to represent their own interests. Youth civic engagement is also critically important to prepare young people to be active citizens in a democracy.

What are the benefits of youth engagement?

Youth engagement is a win-win proposition.

• Young people benefit by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem, and connectedness.
   
• Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth, and increasing their commitment and energy to their organizations.
   
• Organizations benefit by improving their programs, gaining community recognition, and attracting funders.
  
  
• Communities benefit by improving quality of life, coordinating youth services, and authentically embracing diversity by representing young people.

To learn more about youth engagement, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley for more information at (319) 272-2087, email, or visit www.vccv.org.

Thanks to Youth Center of Excellence, Cornell University.