Successfully Involving Youth in Decision Making by Tenetian

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Tenet Systems Pvt. Ltd.An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

Wednesday Work-out session – 28th of July 2013

Presented By – Ignatius Victor& Alexander kujur


13 Points

Successfully Involving Youth in Decision-Making


What is Decision-Making

Giving every one the chance to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.

Making Decision involves:1. Planning activities2. Researching alternatives3. Recruiting people4. Directing action5. Evaluating experiences6. Advocating for change7. Mentoring one another

Point 1

So why the Youth are kept away from decision making process?


•In the past, organizational decision-making was a formal process, voting when the chairperson called for a vote.•Involving youth in decision-making can make the process more dynamic, involving internet surveys and discussion groups.•Decisions-making can be big and small – they happen everyday, everywhere.

Decision-Making is Changing


Examples of Decision-making scenario:

1. E-mail to a supervisor2. Involvement in planning a town hall meeting3. Participation in a hiring committee

“There is no surer way to teach responsible decision-making than to involve young people in decision-making that is bigger than themselves – that is, community decision-making. That community can be a youth group, a classroom, an organization, a neighborhood, a city, or a nation.”


Does Every Person have a right to Voice?

Does Every Person have a right to Voice?


Decision-Making stepsDecision-Making steps1. Define the opportunity

or problem2. Identify the possible

alternatives/choices3. Evaluate the

alternatives/choices for possible consequences

4. Produce a f inal choice.

5. Implement the action.

1. Define the opportunity or problem

2. Identify the possible alternatives/choices

3. Evaluate the alternatives/choices for possible consequences

4. Produce a f inal choice.

5. Implement the action.


Point 2 – Youth involvement.Basic Assumptions about Youth in Decision-Making

Point 2 – Youth involvement.Basic Assumptions about Youth in Decision-Making

Involvement should strive towards equal partnership

Create a culture that honors youth as full members of our community

Involvement should include:1. Right to raise issues2. Challenge assumptions3. Provide input4. Conduct research5. Vote on decisions6. Reflect on experience

Involvement should strive towards equal partnership

Create a culture that honors youth as full members of our community

Involvement should include:1. Right to raise issues2. Challenge assumptions3. Provide input4. Conduct research5. Vote on decisions6. Reflect on experience


Ways to Involve Youth

Devising budget : How activities are financed. More responsible with funds.

Policy-making: Youth perspective for rules, legislation that affect youth, families, communities

Research: Youth identify issues that affect them

Curriculum design: What will meet their needs?

Technology : Make use of their knack of technology for assistance, e.g,web design, etc.

Evaluation: Offer youth perspective

Grant-making: Offer youth perspective; learn valuable skills


Point 3 – Know Why to Involve Youth ?

Getting youth’s perspective: Policy-making, Research, evaluation, use of technology. Offer youth a structure like forums, youth-spectrum to be involved.

Making them more responsible cit izen : Change maker of communities, societies, understanding the best use of funds, resources and brainstorming to generate more of the same.

Assume leadership roles in future


Point 4 – Know how to involve youth? Assess Your Organization

Point 4 – Know how to involve youth? Assess Your Organization

Conduct an Organizational Assessment :Do you have “Buy-In” from your members to

involve youth?Consider conducting youth-adult

one-on-one conversationsDiscuss member’s hopes & fears about

involving youth

Conduct an Organizational Assessment :Do you have “Buy-In” from your members to

involve youth?Consider conducting youth-adult

one-on-one conversationsDiscuss member’s hopes & fears about

involving youth


Point 5 – Determine Your Approach

1. Involve young people in an exist ing adult body.

Add board positions for youth members

2. Set up an adjunct body consist ing of young people only.

How will the group provide input to the primary governing body?

What staff support is available to keep the youth group functioning well?

Involve youth in the decision Remember to consider the

group’s Vision and Goals Be open to making changes in

group’s structure Discuss the pros and cons:

whether to add youth to an existing group or create an adjunct youth body

Two General Approaches


Point 6 – Overcome Organizational Barriers

Point 6 – Overcome Organizational Barriers

Define the Barriers – what barriers wil l l ikely pop up? Do you need to adjust your by-laws? Do members hold stereotypical views about youth?

What are your beliefs? Does your group have a plan to bring new ideas and

new young members ?

Define the Barriers – what barriers wil l l ikely pop up? Do you need to adjust your by-laws? Do members hold stereotypical views about youth?

What are your beliefs? Does your group have a plan to bring new ideas and

new young members ?


Point 7 – Overcome Personal BarriersPoint 7 – Overcome Personal Barriers

What do we expect from young people? Do we expect excellence & initiative or do we coddle

or control them? The Role of Power – adults have more power &

resources than youth “Adult ism” – Behavior, action, language or

limitation placed on youth people’s rights that does not afford them the respect they deserve.

Could you see a young person as a partner or only someone to mentor? Are there things you could learn from a young person?

What do we expect from young people? Do we expect excellence & initiative or do we coddle

or control them? The Role of Power – adults have more power &

resources than youth “Adult ism” – Behavior, action, language or

limitation placed on youth people’s rights that does not afford them the respect they deserve.

Could you see a young person as a partner or only someone to mentor? Are there things you could learn from a young person?


Point 9 – Create a Strong Orientation ProcessPoint 9 – Create a Strong Orientation Process

1. Create a letter of agreement, including responsibil i t ies.

2. Offer an orientation session.

3. Create opportunit ies for ongoing orientation/training.

4. Find an Adult Ally for youth members

5. Encourage youth to ask questions or ask for help if needed

1. Create a letter of agreement, including responsibil i t ies.

2. Offer an orientation session.

3. Create opportunit ies for ongoing orientation/training.

4. Find an Adult Ally for youth members

5. Encourage youth to ask questions or ask for help if needed


Point 10 – Develop Young LeadersPoint 10 – Develop Young Leaders

Essentials of Support ing Young Leaders

1. Identify the basic ski l ls needed to do the job

2. What training is needed? Create a training plan

3. Choose learning/training methods

4. Reflect, evaluate lessons learned

5. Sustain interest through ongoing support

Essentials of Supporting Young Leaders

1. Identify the basic skil ls needed to do the job

2. What training is needed? Create a training plan

3. Choose learning/training methods

4. Reflect, evaluate lessons learned

5. Sustain interest through ongoing support


Point 11 – Provide Intergenerational Training

Bridge the gap between adults and young people so they can work more effectively together

Help adults remember what was l ike to be a young person

Help youth respect where adults are coming from

“What do we have in common” rather than “how are we different?”


Point 12 – Facil i tate Successful Meetings

Create interactive agendas, how can we incorporate interactive activit ies in the agenda? E.g. Icebreakers

What roles do we want specific young people and adults to play during the meeting?

Making Meeting More interactive .


“Young people are learning about life in everything that they do, including the work they do with you. Your work together will be more successful if you get to know the whole young person – the one he or she is outside of his or her role with your organization. Strong, respectful relationships with adults and with each other give young people the safety and confidence to lead in their communities and transform their own lives.”

“Young people are learning about life in everything that they do, including the work they do with you. Your work together will be more successful if you get to know the whole young person – the one he or she is outside of his or her role with your organization. Strong, respectful relationships with adults and with each other give young people the safety and confidence to lead in their communities and transform their own lives.”


Tips for Cult ivating Partnerships Tips for Cult ivating Partnerships

Let young people be in charge – the best way for young people to learn is by doing.

Remember that you do not always know better

Be consistent and follow through with what you say

Let young people be in charge – the best way for young people to learn is by doing.

Remember that you do not always know better

Be consistent and follow through with what you say

Never believe that young people don’t have an opinion

Speak to young people with respect

Develop a Mentoring Plan

Remember to have fun!

Never believe that young people don’t have an opinion

Speak to young people with respect

Develop a Mentoring Plan

Remember to have fun!



Beginnings:In 1984 over 300,000

young people from around the world responded

to the invitation of His Holiness John Paul II for an International

Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square.

Looking out to the crowds who answered his invitation he said,

“What a fantastic spectacle is presented on this stage by your gathering here today!

Who claimed that today’s youth has lost their sense of values?

Is it really true that they cannot be counted on?”

It was at this gathering that the Holy Father entrusted

to the youth what is now known as the World Youth Day,

to be carried throughout the world as a symbol of the love of Christ for humanity.

HISTORY


World Youth Day 2011 Epic - WYD JMJ GMG WJT - VIDEO


Thank you for your time!

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Call: +919830158077 or +1-850-745-0414

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Tenet Systems Pvt. Ltd.

42, N K Guin Lane, Serampore, Hooghly – 712201, India.

Call: +919830158077 or +1-850-745-0414

Web: http://tenetsystems.net

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Successfully Involving Youth in Decision Making by Tenetian