YUCDEV

Youth-In-Community Development (YUCDEV) This program concept is initiated by CommunityAID aimed at increasing youth efforts/involvement and to clearly define roles for youth in local development activities. Often, much of the attentions given to building local capacities are focused on adults, ignoring the visibility and activism of youth components in community development efforts. Youth involvement contributes to the development of community social and psychological build-up of the youth engaged. Therefore, there is the necessity for practitioners, CSO’s, governments, program developers and policymakers to better understand and embrace the role of youth in community development process. Equally important, a need exist to better recognize and capitalize on the benefits and opportunities presented through youth involvement in community development activities. While often seen as activities for the old in communities, youth can actively contribute to a variety of extension activities that enhance local life. If youth are included in programs to meet needs and empower communities, they can become a lifelong participant and take on a sense of ownership in development efforts. The dying agency for youth involvement is to inculcate that deep sense of responsibility into the mindset of youth, therefore, giving them the sense of need for them to actively take in developmental efforts. Youth must be fully engaged and active in change efforts at the community level if they are to learn to function as effective members of society. As youth are brought into community organizations and civic roles that they have traditionally been excluded from, they can participate in local decision-making at multiple levels. This collaboration leads to skill enhancement, confidence building and ownership that prepares them as they navigate towards adulthood. As youth correspondents we propose initiating this program under a step-by step approach that will spearhead preparation, policy/activities implementation and support programs aimed at ensuring a global awareness and must involve attitude of youth in community development efforts. It is in our interest as youth correspondents to implement advocacy and educational projects, enhance capacity of youth in community activities, work with institutions at the local government levels, support rural youth entrepreneurial activities and reports these overall activities to the organization and global masses.