Youth
voice is more than seeking input from youth about project
selection. Youth voice is defined as listening to and
engaging young people throughout the service learning
process. This means that youth have valuable input and
roles in all aspects of the service learning experience,
from project selection to the type of reflection that
is to be conducted. When youth are given a voice and
are actively listened to by their adult counterparts,
a more successful service learning project is almost
guaranteed. Youth bring new energy and ideas to the
projects, but are also valuable assets in recruiting,
engaging, and encouraging other youth.
When
working with youth in your service learning project,
it is important to listen to them, ask challenging questions,
reflect on your own experiences as a young person, be
patient, and have the courage to set aside your fears.
Remember that you should expect the same thing from
young people as you would expect of yourself. Don’t
have unrealistic expectations for your youth leaders.
Be straight to the point and be sure the youth know
where you are coming from.
It
is important to involve youth from the beginning. Avoid
tokenism by involving youth early in the process, before
all of the decisions are made. Youth should not be showed
a completed project and asked if they like it, so that
they only give a "stamp of approval." Remember
that youth are resources. Take advantage of their experiences
and enthusiasm. |
The
Grundy County 4-H Honor Club and Outdoor Adventure Club
partnered with environmental/biology students, the Ag
Business Council, Farm Bureau, the University of the South,
and other community members to plant wildflowers, construct
bird sanctuaries, and maintain trails at the high school’s
outdoor classroom. The young people split into groups
and established priorities for the tasks to be completed.
They compiled estimates, gathered supplies, and finalized
details for the project. They conducted a preparation
meeting with the partner organizations and adult volunteers
to establish a working plan for the project. The youth
worked with adults to prepare the project site, distribute
and collect evaluations, and plan the celebration of the
completion of the project. The adult volunteers learned
that the youth of their county have initiative and dedication
to see a project to completion. One volunteer commented,
“After seeing the success of the Wildflower Project,
I would be interested in seeing what other grants might
be available for youth/adult service learning projects.”
