Youth Participation and Empowerment: A Case Study of Youth Participation in Boys' House

Abstract

This study is conducted to ascertain how Boys’ House supports factors that promote youth participation in organized group activities in Boys’ House. The study intends to uncover factors that encourage youth participation in organized group activities in Boys’ House. In addition, the study looked to establish what effect does participation in organized group activities have on youth development in Boys’ House. A review of literature was carried out to broaden knowledge on youth participation in organized group activities, and to identify areas of prior research relevant to the research problem investigated. Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire containing a sample size of 10 chosen to participate, analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentage.

The need for developing this thesis based on the chosen topic became evident during my first semester internship at Boys’ House where I had the opportunity to attend different seminars and workshops on youth participation. While participating in one of the workshop events, I was engaged in interactive discussion with one of the attending youth practitioners about barriers to youth engagement which left me with the need to develop the study on the topic. The study was done in collaboration with Boys’ House and their interest in this study is centered on their clients’ approaches to diversity inside their organized group activities.

The study concluded that factors such as youth involvement in decision-making process, a quest for friendship and learning, multicultural and culturally diverse and inclusive youth activities, encouraged youth participation in Boys’ House. The study further concluded that youth participation in organized group activities in Boys’ House had contributed to youth’s academic development and have improved the ability of young people to feel other people’s emotions, have boosted young people’s self-esteem and confidence, and have led to enhancement of young people’s social skills, and empowerment in expressing a positive outlook on different gender identities. The study recommends Boys’ House to place emphasis on youth activities which offer possibilities for more human interactions amongst their diverse visitors including strengthening measures that promote diversity and acceptance which encourage general well-being of young people in their group activities.