Keys to Quality Youth Development

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3. Youth Develop Self-Worth Through Meaningful Contribution
Premise
Young people feel free to contribute, and their contribution is accepted, acknowledged, and appreciated.
Building a Foundation Empowerment Empowerment is an important outcome of making a contribution and promotes an increased sense of self-worth. The Search Institute identifies important examples: Community values youth - Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth. Youth are recognized as resources - Young people are given useful roles in the community. Youth included in community service - Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.	Selecting Outcomes What will be done in your program to make sure youth - contribute individually to the group experience? work together with adults to create the experience? are challenged? are recognized for their contributions? know that their experience or contribution was valued by others?
Identifying Practices
Ask youth what they want to do or learn. Recognize and reward healthy risk-taking, creativity, and innovation. Encourage youth and adults to make decisions together. Involve youth in important roles and responsibilities. Recognize youth throughout the experience. Use the five steps of the experiential learning model:     1. Experience: youth are involved in an active, hands-on team or individual activity.     2. Share: youth discuss what they did and felt.     3. Process: youth discuss common experiences or insights.     4. Generalize: youth relate the experience to real life situations.     5. Apply: youth use what they discovered to change their behavior or attitude in a new or similar situation.
How It Works    A group of volunteer leaders spent time discussing the question, "What makes a good community service project?" They agreed upon the following points: let young people select projects that really interest them, have tangible outcomes, and make a real difference in the lives of others. Choose projects that have opportunities for learning and individual growth. Give priority to ongoing projects contributing to the common good. Older youth helping younger youth is a great program model. Discussion and reflection help young people understand the significance of their contribution.	Things To Think About Self-worth and personal power grow through service to others. Group celebrations are good ways to reward contribution and service. Young people gain understanding and empathy through active service to others. Young people benefit from seeing tangible outcomes and hearing direct feedback from people they affect. Words Of Wisdom "Among the most powerful means of enriching young lives is to enlist their energies in improving their own great communities." Great Transitions, p. 110
Questions For Youth
What did you learn from participation in this program? What were your personal contributions to the program? What difference did this service experience make in your life?
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