• Youth organizations can help change public perception of young people from being "the problem" to an important part of making life better in the community.

• Involving young people in the community helps them see themselves as part of the whole; they really do become less likely to cause problems and more likely to want to look for solutions.

• By involving young people, the community is allowing them to carefully develop their leadership potential, so that as they grow and learn they can become thoughtful, prepared leaders of the society.

• Other community organizations can often partner with youth organizations, to mutual benefit. Young people can bring a tremendous amount of life to an organization; often, their energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and perspective are invaluable to members of larger community initiatives that choose to actively involve them.

 

Who should establish youth organizations?

As we said above, youth organizations can be started by two broad groups of people: young people themselves, or an adult who cares about them. Both options make sense in some circumstances, and both offer their own unique advantages. Let's look at some of the ideas behind both groups starting youth organizations.

• Adults

Adults who begin or sponsor youth organizations can come from almost anywhere. Most commonly, they include teachers, coaches, ministers, parents, and staff of social service agencies. Sometimes, they don't have any direct tie to young people, but have experience or expertise they'd like to pass on. ("I was a mom at 16, and I'd like to help new teen parents survive all of the challenges.")

Wherever they come from, what adults who start youth organizations do (or should ) have in common is their commitment -- to youth, to helping people, and to the group's goals.

Being an insider (someone the local young people know and respect, such as a popular teacher) can make it much easier to start a youth organization. Insiders often find it easier to plan activities that are interesting to youth. They know the area, know the kids, and know what's likely to work. (They also may have a better idea of what students will probably just think is "lame.") Also, young people might be more attracted to programs started by insiders because they know and trust them. If the adult sponsor is from the same area or ethnic group, the young people might feel that they have a better chance of the adult understanding what they are going through, and the circumstances that they have to deal with on a daily basis. This is especially true when groups are involved in sensitive issues, such as drug abuse, violence, or teen sexuality.

Of course, people from outside the community can come to the community to work, and they sometimes bring great success. Often, these people do work that is connected to a national organization like the YMCA or the Girl Scouts. While they will have to overcome the challenges of becoming known and respected by young people in the community, these outsiders can bring a recognized name and successful programming to new communities. Another advantage of having an outsider start a youth group is that she can bring new energy, a new perspective, and additional resources to a community.

Regardless of whether the adult is an insider or an outsider, having an adult organize or sponsor the group can add credibility to the youth organization, helping young people gather both respect and resources. For example, most young people haven't ever written grant applications, while an adult sponsor may very well have done so. For this reason, most youth organizations might want to at least have an adult with whom the group is affiliated. It can open doors that are usually (unfortunately, and unfairly, but realistically) closed to young people working on their own.

Example of an adult-sponsored organization: Key Club

Key Club is an international organization dedicated to community service that was founded through the Kiwanis Club in 1925. Every Key Club conducts an active program of service for school and the community. Projects are centered around a different theme every year.

The club's objectives are to develop leadership, to serve school and community, and to help young people prepare for useful citizenship. Each Key Club is sponsored and overseen by the local Kiwanis club, with Key Club members attending Kiwanis meetings and vice versa. Students involved in Key Club work to improve their community through an established international network, drawing on each other for support and ideas on community development.