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Article by Ms. Octavia Alfred

Date: 26 Jul 2007

Best Graduating Student, Dominca Pan Commonwealth Diploma in Youth Development Work 2004 - 2006

…..We have to be agents of change. We have to be advocates for the youth and we have to be passionate and aggressive about what we do.

More and more the demands on Youth in Development Workers (YDWs) are increasing as the problems and challenges of our youth are increasing. YDW's are not just youth officers; they are the people who are passionate about the young people with whom they come into contact.

As the challenges increase, so too YDWs need to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to help our young people to overcome life's difficulties.

The experience and knowledge I have gained in the CYP Youth Development Programme has enriched me beyond my own expectations. I have not only become a better YDW, but a better parent to my own three children whose ages range between 12-23 years. Having gone through Teacher's Training College, I can say this programme was not like a teachers training programme.

At Teachers' College I was taught to teach people but in the CYP programme I was taught to reach people. There is a difference - when we teach people they learn, but when we reach people, they learn, they turn and they earn. The one word that could be used to describe people who have learned and turned and are now earning is empowered.

he CYP Programme taught me to help young people to empower themselves. I did not think the programme would help me so much as a school teacher, but it has made a big difference. I cannot believe the number of times I have to refer to my modules as I deal with situations in my new role as a principal. The modules on:

  • Project Planning
  • Policy
  • Working with Young People
  • Commonwealth Values
  • Learning Conflict Resolution
  • Environmental Issues and
  • Youth and Health have especially been helpful.

As a matter of fact I keep my Modules on a shelf in my office right over my desk- These modules are precious resources.

I want to encourage all YDWs around the world to be proactive, creative and dynamic. Equip yourself to deal with our precious youth, because they are in more trouble than ever before. We cannot just wait around and believe things are going to change or evolve. We have to be agents of change. We have to be advocates for the youth and we have to be passionate and aggressive about what we do. Our youth are not the tomorrow they are the today.

They are not the future, they are the now. Help them see how much they influence everything that goes on in this world - policies, manufacturing, planning, and politics. We need to position our selves as YDWs because soon the axis around which world events will spin will be the youth. Therefore, whatever we as YDWs do or whatever we do not, let us remember, the youth are counting on us.

Download the article: Article by Ms. Octavia Alfred

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