Youth involvement in community planning, decision-making, and action hasn’t received a lot of attention in the past, but youths are becoming increasingly involved in community development.
Youth collaboration can benefit community nonprofit organizations, volunteer programs, and nongovernmental organizations in the following ways:
Youths can be an effective planning and evaluation resource.
Younger members can help long-term community efforts because they’re in a position to become long-term contributors.
Involved youths can help organizations become more aware of issues that concern younger populations, which can increase an organization’s impact.
Not only do community organizations benefit when they collaborate with youths, this collaboration also helps the youth themselves. Community participation helps youths become empathetic citizens who could potentially continue similar work when they become adults. Additionally, youths who give back to their communities develop leadership.
