A youth leadership training programme for Soweto youth clubs: a needs analysis
Date
2014-04-07
Authors
Serobatse, Shirlyn Correen
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Abstract
This study was undertaken with the purpose of identifying the problems
experienced by the youth who participated in leadership positions within Soweto
Youth Clubs. Further, the study focused on the way in which youth leaders ran
their organisations. Furthermore, it explored a systematic community work
approach to the development and change of structures, resources and services,
in which the central role of the social worker and adult educator, would be to
release and develop the potential for self reliance, inherent in youth individuals
and groups within the community, through training.
Fieldwork was conducted by the researcher over a period of eighteen months,
using a combination of research methods. These included observation,
documentary analysis, literature survey, interview schedules and questionnaires.
A wide range of literature was reviewed to enable the researcher to gain
background understanding of who the youth are; why they belong to groups and
youth clubs; how peer groups and youth clubs contribute to their personal
growth and development; and what could be done by professionals working with
the youth in order to enhance and facilitate this development.
Prior the administration of the research questionnaire, an informal scan was
conducted by the researcher recording observations of proceedings of youth club
sessions and committee meetings. The purpose of this endeavour was to collect
data that would substantiate the research findings revealed by the
questionnaires.
The study focused on forfy-eight (48) young persons between the ages of 13 and
25 years, who were drawn randomly from the sixteen (16) Youth Clubs in
Soweto, to whom the research questionnaire was administered. In addition,
scheduled interviews were conducted with management staff and personnel of
Soweto Youth Clubs; experts in the field of training; and fifteen (15) youth
service organisations. The purpose was to encourage involvement and
participation' of community members in planning and strategising on the
approaches suitable for addressing problems experienced by the youth.
The research findings revealed that the youth were to some extent, ineffective
and inefficient in carrying out their different roles as office bearer of executive /
sub-committees in youth organisations. Further, results revealed that it was
important to develop the youth in relevant skills for their office bearer roles,
skills that could be utilised to facilitate the initiation of constructive change
processes and service provision in their communities; and further, to provide
opportunities for considerable degree of personal growth, especially in areas of
self confidence and interpersonal relations.
A model of skills training for young adults, which would equip them with skills
for community participation, was devised for use by community workers
practicing in the field, emphasis ’ ting placed on integrated community social
work and adult education principles.
The essential skills and knowledge areas identified in this study focused on the
individual, group and community work developmental areas. The following skills
areas were embodied in a plan for a Youth Leadership Training Programme:
» Self Analysis
a Committee Functions, Roles and Procedures
• Organisational Procedures
« Group Participation and Leadership
• Knowledge and Utilisation of Community Resources
• Problem Selection, Goal Setting, Project Planning, Implementation and
Evaluation
• Fundraising
It is impcrtant for the adult educator to review the content of this training
programme, prior implementation to ensure adaptation to the changing needs
and' interest of the youth.