‘CHANGING THE PARADIGMS ABOUT HOW WE INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING’ - SOME THOUGHT STARTERS -

1. ‘CHANGING THE PARADIGMS ABOUT HOW WE INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING’ - SOME THOUGHT STARTERS - By: Peter Kenyon Director Bank of I.D.E.A.S (Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies) Ph: 61 – 8 – 6293 1848 Fax: 61 – 8 – 6293 1137 email:pk@bankofideas.com.au web: www.bankofideas.com.au

2. ‘No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline.’ (Kofi Annan, UN General Secretary) ‘There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul, than the way it treats its children and young people.’ (Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa)

3. YOUNG PEOPLE • CAUSE PROBLEMS • HAVE PROBLEMS • ARE PROBLEMS

4. SOCRATES (500BC) - ‘Our youth today now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect for older people. Children now days are tyrants, they no longer rise when elders enter the room, they contradict their parents, they chatter before company, gobble their food and tyrannise their teachers.They have execrable manners, flout authority, have no respect for their elders. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up.’ ARISTOTLE, 300 BC) - ‘When I look at the younger generation, I despair for the future of civilisation.’

5. PLATO - ‘Of all animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.’ PETER THE HERMIT, 1274 - ‘The world is passing through troubled times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age; they are impatient of all restraint; they talk as if they alone know everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are foolish and immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress.’ DISRAELI - 'Youth is a blunder'

6. ‘The youth of the present day are quite monstrous. They have absolutely no respect of dyed hair.’ OSCAR WILDE ‘Youth is such a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children.’ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

7. ‘There are three terrible ages of childhood – 1 to 10, 10 to 20 and 20 to 30.’ (Cleveland Amory) ‘There are two kinds of kids,difficult and impossible !’  (Bill Cosby)

8. TEONA Latin word from which the word teenager originates. It means ‘grief, strife and misery’

9. ‘When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.But when I got to be twenty one, I was astonishedat how much he had learned in seven years.’ ‘Life would be infinitely happier if we could onlybe born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.’ (Mark Twain)

10. ‘INSIDE EVERY OLDER PERSON IS A YOUNGER PERSON – WONDERING WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED’ (Anon)

11. ‘YOUTH ARE THE LEADERS OF TODAY, NOT TOMORROW WE ARE ASSETS, NOT LIABILITIES WE ARE SOLUTIONS, NOT A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED’ (Sooraya Mentor, South Africa)

12. ‘Youth are resources to be developed not problems to be fixed’ (Professor Robert Blum, 2001)

13. EXPERTS WHO WERE PROVEN WRONG ABOUTYOUNG PEOPLE 'We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out' (Mike Smith, DECCA A&R Manager, turning down the Beatles, 1962) 'The rest of the group is fine but the Singer (Mick Jagger) will have to go' (Eric Easton,taking over as manager of a popgroup. The group was The Rolling Stones, 1961)

14. UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION BY YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN • Fresh perspectives • Great collaborators • Make the dollar stretch • Passionate about issues, eg, environment / sustainability • Impatience • Attract the attention of the media • Best know what other young people think and want

15. PARADIGM CHANGE REGARDINGYOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ProblemProblem Solver ClientChange Maker RecipientCo-Participant At risk populationLeadershipasset to be dealt with to be cultivated Tomorrow’s Part of today’s Leaders Leadership team Adult in the A citizen today making

16. ‘R U MAD’ • Are You • Making A Difference? -An Initiative of the Education Foundation-

17. “We as parents and as teachers, must feel the guilt for some of the demise of the rural communities. Too many of us have been in the business of encouraging our children and our students to study hard so they can go and get good jobs. We have not worked hard enough to help them explore the possibilities of returning to their home communities some day, not in search of jobs, but in search of entrepreneurial opportunities through which they can offer jobs.” (Dr Edwin Nelson, Director , School / Community Revitalisation Program, Nebraska, USA)

18. GOALS OF C.R.E.A.T.E. • To develop ‘can do’ attitudes and enterprising behaviour amongst rural young women and men. • To encourage rural young men and women to focus on • the assets, capabilities and opportunities of their rural communities, rather than dwelling on their limitations, weaknesses and deficiencies. • To contribute to the development of an enterprise culture and to stimulate new entrepreneurial thinking and activity within rural Australia. • To support rural young people respond to changing social, economic and employment circumstances by encouraging self-initiative and the consideration of self-employment asa career option for remaining in or returning to ruralAustralia.

19. C.R.E.A.T.E. CURRICULUM THEMES • UNDERSTANDING RURAL CHANGE • APPRECIATING SELF • BEING ENTERPRISING • EXPLORING OUR COMMUNITY AS A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY • EXPERIMENTING WITH SOCIAL AND BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS

20. PRINCIPLES TO ENABLE EFFECTIVE YOUTH PARTICIPATION • enable fun, challenge and excitement; • allow participation by choice; • avoid pigeonholing of young men and women and generalising about their behaviour, opinions or ideas; • maximise the opportunity of success through adequate provision of information, training, support, resources, time and space; • address opportunities, needs and issues that are valued and respected by young people, their peers and the community; • start with the talents, capacities, assets and skills of young people, rather than their problems and deficiencies; • involve young men and women from the start;

21. create opportunities for young women and men tolead \ and teach; • maximise decision making and accountability byyoung people; • develop young peoples awareness of the social, political, economic, cultural and personal aspectsofthe issues affecting them; • make sense of, and demystify adult structures and processes; • build active and supportive working relationships between young people and other members ofthe community; • provide opportunities for training and skilldevelopment; and • encourage opportunities to reflect and analyse their experiences. (According to the Bank of I.D.E.A.S)

22. SIX PATHWAY OUTCOMES THAT COMMUNITIES COULD PROMISE TO THEIR YOUNG • A healthy start (good nutrition andintellectual stimulation). • An adult who cares and provides role modelling and mentor roles (parent, neighbour, tutor, coach, relative, teacher). • 3. Safe places to learn and grow. • 4. The tools to succeed (Literacy, numeracy lifeskills, teamwork skills, analysis skills, appreciative inquiry skills, communication skills). • 5. An employment start in life. • A opportunity to make a positive difference to their world. • (Bank of I.D.E.A.S – Based on the ‘Ontario Promise’)

23. Ten Commandments For Involving Young People In Community Building • Always start with the gifts, talents, knowledge and skills of young people – never with their needs and problems. • Always lift up the unique individual, never the category to which the young person belongs. It is “Frank” who sings so well, or Maria the great soccer; never the “at-risk youth” or the “pregnant teen”. • Share the conviction that: (a) Every community is filled with useful opportunities for young people to contribute to the community; and (b) there is no community institution or association that can’t find a useful role for young people. • Try to distinguish between real community building work, and games or fakes – because young people know the difference. • Fight – in every way you can – age segregation. Work to overcome the isolation of young people.

24. Start to get away from the principal of aggregation of people by their emptiness. Don’t put everyone who can’t read together in the same room. It makes no sense. • Move as quickly as possible beyond youth “advisory boards” or councils, especially those boards with only one young person on them. • Cultivate many opportunities for young people to teach and to lead. • Reward and celebrate every creative effort, every contribution made by young people. Young people can help take the lead here. • In every way possible, amplify this message to young people: “We need you! Our community cannot be strong and complete without you”. (According to Jody Kretzmann, Institute for Asset Based Community Development)

25. With 5O THINGS ADULTS CAN DOFOR YOUNGMEN AND WOMEN 1. Have a real conversation with a group of young people. Ask young people what they want to do and how you can assist tomake that happen. 2. Support community organizations that involve young people in meaningful roles. 3. Start a resource library of videos, photographic and printed materials on youth involvement in your community. 4. Financially and personally support organizations that train young people and adults to work together. 5. Develop a mutual mentorship program between adults and young people. 6. Co-create or support along with young people a community centre or place for young people and adults to gather and do constructive things together. 7. Listen to young people express their concerns and perspectives about community issues and opportunities and helpthem take action. 8. Be an advocate for young men and women by making sure they’re at the table when you are discussing them. 9. Highlight in the local newspapers the positive contribution of young men and women. 10. Introduce the 'Youth at the Centre' tools as a way of helping young people study and audit their opportunities and challenges of the community, and then to plan and implement projects that will enhance the community. 11. Write a letter to a newspaper editor about youth issues with a young person.

26. 12. Respect young people as you would a peer, and talk to them as you would talk to an adult. 13. Work with young people to plan a community focussed project. 14. Hold a breakfast and invite young people to come and discuss their community, and what they would like to see happen. 15. In planning youth development activities, start with the talents, assets and skills of young people, rather than their problems and deficiencies. 16. Involve interested young people as consultants, interns, apprentices, and staff. 17. Be consistent and clear about your expectations of young people and adults in your home. 18. Team up with young men and women and youth-led groups to have a town meeting on a vision for young people in your community. 19. Identify and network with young people in your community who are interested in youth and community issues. 20. Network and connect with other adult committed to genuine youth participation principles. 21. Provide transportation to young people who would not otherwise be able to participate in community activities. 22. Team up with young people to support political candidates at local, state, and national levels who make listening to, and working with young people a priority! 23. Help arrange for a radio station to sponsor a call-in show led by young people that allows them to talk about their ideas. 24. Help arrange for young people to have a regular audience with the mayor andlocal council to highlight their ideas for improving social and socialopportunities.

27. 25. Work with young people to establish a Youth Council within the community. 26. Insist that any development committees operating within the community must reserve several committee places for young people. 27. Only go to meetings where youth are invited or you can bring young people with you. 28. Create opportunities for young women and men to lead, teach and mentor. 29. Advocate for youth-led experiences in the schools so students can learn through hands-on experience. 30. Make your home a comfortable, safe, and affirming place where young people are welcome. 31. Help young people create a newsletter for your community on youth issues and perspectives. 32. Help young people compile a list of all opportunities for youth involvement in your community. Post it in your local library and schools. Have estate agents give it to new families in town. 33. Involve young people as mentors to community and business members in the use of the Internet and E commerce opportunities. 34. Email editions of community newspapers to all local young people studying away from the town. 35. Maintain a data base of all ex students from the community and communicate each year about the community and its opportunities and solicit development ideas. 36. Raise funds for a youth-led organization. 37. Avoid pigeon holing of young women and men and generalising about their behaviour, opinions or ideas.

28. 38. Join (or form) with young people a community task force to develop ideas and implement actions to improve community opportunities. 39. Support young people in an audit of local businesses in terms of their youth friendliness. 40. Cancel a meeting or engagement so you can spend time with a young person in your family or community. 41. Confide in a young person. Ask their advice on issues that you’re strugglingwith. 42. Be an advocate for youth/adult partnerships in your workplace. 43. Maximise the opportunity for success by youth led projects by ensuring adequate provision of information, training, support, resources, time and space. 44. Value young people’s work and pay them for their work. Don’t assume that just because someone is young they are a volunteer. 45. Write notes of appreciation for young people who contribute to the community or achieve in the arts, sports and service. 46. Attend events in the area where young people are actively engaged. 47. Monitor regional, state and national youth leadership development experiences, and promote participation by local young people. 48. Advocate the local community commit resources for local youth leadership development experiences. 49. Avoid interrupting young people. 50. DO involve young people in all states of planning, managing and evaluating youth related events and projects. (Compiled by the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. Adapted from similar lists by the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development of the National 4H Council and Search Institute, USA)

29. ‘Tell me, I forget. Show me, and I remember. Involve me, and I understand’. (Chinese proverb)

30. ‘LEARNING IS AN EXPERIENCE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST INFORMATION.’  (Albert Einstein) ‘THE MIND IS NOT A VESSEL TO BE FILLED, BUT A FIRE TO BE IGNITED.’  (Plutarch)

31. ‘There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our young people – one of these is roots, the other is wings’ (Hodding Carter)