Thread:'''INTRODUCTION TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE''' (1)

Hi Class!

A big welcome to you. My full names are Andrew Tandeo, a youth development practitioner, trainer, researcher and consultant. I will take on this session for two days.

This is the first of five modules for the IPYET 2011 Online programme. The first module sets the tone for all the discussions we will be having during these sessions and the residential programme. Module 1 is therefore aptly titled – “Youth Development” because it asks some of the fundamental questions everybody should be asking. Let us try our hands (and minds) on a few questions that may be asked by some of the organisers of the IPYET programme for instance: why these participants – are they youth; do they work with youth; do they work for youth; are they professionals working with youth or are they not; will lessons they learn from this training be translated to young people in their constituencies; etc? These and many more are the questions our partners may be asking.

This exciting and interesting module offers you an excellent opportunity to prepare you as youth development practitioners before engaging with young people, particularly entrepreneurship development interventions. We get to define youth at three levels- age, ability, and status and behaviour. Once we define youth, we dare ourselves to examine their rights and how they are linked to the idea of decent work. Youth development practice is all about building a trusting relationship with young people. Again, it allows us to ask ourselves what the best principles of practice are and invites us to reflect on what is “OK” in this relationship. We will end our session with exploring power and influence as the most useful resources in unlocking their potential as successful entrepreneurs’ and contributors to national economy.

Course Outline: The course is divided into five sections and is delivered over a period of three days. •	Definition and dynamism of young people •	Rights of young people •	Decent work •	Code of Ethics and Conduct •	Young People Power and Influence

Aim of the course: To Introduce the Fundamentals of Youth Development Practice to Participants. At the end of this session, you should be able to: •	define “youth” and explain the dynamics of young people •	explain the rights of young people, especially to decent work •	explain the best principles of practice and conducts in youth development practice and •	understand young people’s power and influence.

Let us geet started now.

In your own words, define who a youth is, and list some of the dynamism of young people.

Let us generate discusions around this topic then we will move on to discuss the rights of young people and Decent work.

Andrew Tandeo