Youth Development is about young people growing up and developing the skills and attitudes they need, both now and in the future, to feel positive and comfortable with their own identity, and believe they have the choices about their future.
It is also about young people developing ways for increasing their control over what happens to them and around them. They need to feel they are contributing something of value to society and to their family, friends and community. They also need to feel connected to society as a whole.
The Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa (YDSA) [Ministry of Youth Afairs, 2002] is a powerful document that describes youth development with respect to six key principles. Each of these principles is a component of good youth development practice.
The principles of YDSA provide a useful vehicle to implement a number of concepts recognised in major educational strategic documents. These strategic publications (see below) endorse the youth development approach as one that is consistent with the future of education.
| Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa |
Education Priorities for New Zealand |
Schooling Strategy/Making a bigger difference |
Best Evidence Synthesis |
Health Promoting and Mentally Healthy Schools |
| Principle 1. Youth development is shaped by the big picture |
Developing a collaborative and responsive education network |
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The complexity of community and family influences on children's achievement in NZ |
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| Principle 2. Youth development is about young people being connected |
Strengthening family and community involvement |
Strengthening the involvement and engagement of family/whanau and communities |
The complexity of community and family influences on children's achievement in NZ |
Enhance the links between schools and their communities |
| Principle 3. Youth development is based on a consistent strengths-based approach |
We need to recognise and build on our strengths, while acknowledging and working on the areas where we can do better |
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Positive effort and achievement is acknowledged |
| Principle 4. Youth development happens through quality relationships |
Focusing on quality teaching |
Build teacher quality |
Quality teaching for diverse students in schooling |
Communication is respectful. Attitudes are caring and nurturing |
| Principle 5. Youth development is triggered when young people fully participate |
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Enhance student engagement and motivation |
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| Principle 6. Youth development needs good information |
Promoting the knowledge base of the sector |
A strengthened knowledge and evidence base that is applied to all our planning, practice and evaluation |
The best evidence synthesis reports are part of the ongoing investment to strengthen the evidence base that informs education policy and practice |
Help schools evaluate the range of health related activities they are currently involved in, identifying areas of need and setting goals for future direction |
May 2005 booklet "Making it Happen", but it can be downloaded from their website.
Source.Youth Development Resource "Making It Happen", Education, Ministry of Youth Development , May 2005, page 5
