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According to Peter Kenyon, the historic view of young people is problematic; that they cause problems, have problems, and are problems. This is so entrenched in our thought that in fact, the latin word from which "teenager" originates is teona, which means 'grief, strife and misery.'
Yet, young men and women have many unique assets, including:
- fresh perspectives
- great collaborators
- make the dollar stretch
- passionate about issues, eg. environment/sustainability
- impatience
- attract the attention of the media
- best know what other young people think and want
The City of Toronto's InvolveYouth2: A guide to meaningful youth engagement was written to provide advice and support for organizations and staff who work with youth. It's a practical manual which draws on the experience of youth workers and others. It provides strategies on how organizations can help young people gain new skills by creating welcoming environments, supporting youth to make decisions and designing program activities and approaches that meaningfully engage youth.
Download the Guide to Youth Engagement
More Youth Development Resources
Generic Youth Development Framework
The Evaluation Toolkit for Community Youth Programmers
Principles to Enable Effective Youth Participation
51 Things Adults Can Do With Young People
Tips For Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships
23 MAD Ideas For Young People To Use To Make A Difference
Ten Commandments Involving Young People
Joining Forces with Young People