Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment
Allowing the voiceless to have a voice is a tenet of empowerment. This paper highlights research that employed a participatory action research framework to gain a better understanding of young people’s perceptions about youth empowerment and acquire their perspective (voice) about the meaningfulness...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Clemson University Press
2009-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Youth Development |
| Online Access: | http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/243 |
| _version_ | 1797331553801469952 |
|---|---|
| author | Sherer W. Royce |
| author_facet | Sherer W. Royce |
| author_sort | Sherer W. Royce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Allowing the voiceless to have a voice is a tenet of empowerment. This paper highlights research that employed a participatory action research framework to gain a better understanding of young people’s perceptions about youth empowerment and acquire their perspective (voice) about the meaningfulness of participation in out-of-school advocacy and volunteer program activities. Using Photovoice, the research provides a missing point of view in youth empowerment model development. Results indicate that the quality of a youth’s participation in a community-based program is determined by 1) youth expressing themselves without censorship, 2) occasions for youth to expand their social networks with youth and adults, and 3) adults observing and valuing youth contributions. These findings raise implications for community-based, youth empowerment programs including program philosophy, program procedures, youth empowerment content and activities, and adult leadership style. The findings may assist practitioners when designing youth empowering activities and researchers when operationalizing youth empowerment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:37:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fb111d478014ba6944e01bbffa8d4d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2325-4017 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:37:04Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Clemson University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Youth Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fb111d478014ba6944e01bbffa8d4d02024-02-02T18:35:24ZengClemson University PressJournal of Youth Development2325-40172009-12-0144728410.5195/jyd.2009.243221Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative AssessmentSherer W. Royce0Coastal Carolina UniversityAllowing the voiceless to have a voice is a tenet of empowerment. This paper highlights research that employed a participatory action research framework to gain a better understanding of young people’s perceptions about youth empowerment and acquire their perspective (voice) about the meaningfulness of participation in out-of-school advocacy and volunteer program activities. Using Photovoice, the research provides a missing point of view in youth empowerment model development. Results indicate that the quality of a youth’s participation in a community-based program is determined by 1) youth expressing themselves without censorship, 2) occasions for youth to expand their social networks with youth and adults, and 3) adults observing and valuing youth contributions. These findings raise implications for community-based, youth empowerment programs including program philosophy, program procedures, youth empowerment content and activities, and adult leadership style. The findings may assist practitioners when designing youth empowering activities and researchers when operationalizing youth empowerment.http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/243 |
| spellingShingle | Sherer W. Royce Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment Journal of Youth Development |
| title | Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment |
| title_full | Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment |
| title_short | Youth Perspectives on Meaningful Participation in Community Based Programs: A Qualitative Assessment |
| title_sort | youth perspectives on meaningful participation in community based programs a qualitative assessment |
| url | http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/243 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shererwroyce youthperspectivesonmeaningfulparticipationincommunitybasedprogramsaqualitativeassessment |