Our Approach to Youth Development

SAAYC has in its program design, form and practice sought to view young people as active participants in their own development and not just passive recipients. In translating Integrated Youth Development, understood and packaged as its own approach, SAAYC seeks to:
  • Allow young people to determine the intervention and the results
  • Facilitate the changing of an environment
  • Influence positive thinking of the young person
  • Assist and support young people to challenge the odds
  • Provide opportunities to young people so that they stay on track

We believe that effective youth work……

Is not

Rather it
Only focused on desired outcomes Concentrates on developing participatory processes
Trying to shape young people into marketable products Allows young people to determine the results and an intervention
Trying to adjust environments Facilitates the changing of an environment <

This means that we must shift our paradigm…..

From

To

The problem focused, pathological mode The holistic, healthy view
Problem reduction strategies Problem correction strategies
Short-tem, formal and only numerically quantifiable Long-term, includes the non-formal, and is life changing
Trying to change behaviour Trying to influence thinking
Once-off intervention strategies A continuum of appropriate responses

Which then lead us to programmes that will....

Not Only 

But
Help young people beat the odds Assist and support young people to change the odds
Acknowledge and correct problems Document and support the conditions which account for resiliency
Catch those who have jumped off the track Provide opportunities to young people so that they may stay on track
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