Youth Work

What do we mean by youth work?
-      Youth work can have many definitions that vary from one youth worker to another. Although youth work does not have a definitive definition, it does have definite influences by social, political and economic factors. 

Youth work is an educational practice

-          Youth workers engage with youth in multiple settings and use methods and activities to engage and stimulate education and learning. Youth workers are given the opportunity to create substantial trusting relationships with the youth they work with. Youth workers impact youth lives in hopes to create opportunities and conversations that help change the way youth see their social world.

Youth work is a social practice

-          Youth workers have the ability to adopt “case work” approaches to use their personal information and experiences, advice and guidance to help youth. Social practice allows youth and youth workers to learn about their values and attitudes in a social context or interacting and speaking with others.

Youth workers actively challenge inequality and work towards social justice

-          Youth workers seek to address the imbalances and inequality and discuss their wrongs instead of the latter of ignoring the fact to avoid discrimination.

Where possible, young people choose to be involved  

-          Most interactions for youth are not their given choice, but their social expectations. Youth “have” to go to school but their engagement is not always guaranteed. Within youth work, youth should be able to build relationships and want to be involved and interact. For myself, I was never one who hated school, but having an English teacher who made interacting and speaking with her easy made me feel more inclined to participate and ask her for help with more things than just school and class. I have created a bond with this teacher and I have kept in touch with her for 8 years. As a youth worker, I feel it is crucial to create long lasting, impactful relationships.

Youth work seeks to strengthen the voice and influence of young people

-          Working with youth encourages them to speak up and engage themselves in life. Youth should not be afraid of voicing their opinions or feelings and as a youth worker, creating an open atmosphere that allows one to share will teach youth proper communication.

Youth is a welfare practice

-          Youth work promotes the safety and well-being of all youth especially youth in areas which may have greater needs than others. Youth workers choose to work with youth to create and impact and help youth flourish and develop into something much more than they can originally picture for themselves.

Youth work works with young people “holistically”

-          All youth are different and no one youth is like another. Although they are all different and unique, youth are touched by common problems and can be addressed as whole and can be engaged for different reasons. Youth encounter difficulties and they need to be able to talk and share their struggles in an open environment.