33
JOURNAL OF YOUTH RESEARCHES
Rethinking Youth Participation
For Social Development and
Community Strengthening
Copyright © 2017
Republic of Turkey Ministry of Youth and Sports
/
Journal of Youth Researches • July 2017 • 5(12) • 33-46
ISSN 2147-8473
Received
| 11 June 2017
Accepted
| 19 June 2017
* Freie Universität, Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie (Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychologie),
Berlin, Germany,
Angela S. Bushati
*
Abstract
Youth participation constitutes an essential process for promoting access to citizenship rights and
particularly in terms of community development. So far, there has been little study in terms of youth
participation in different matters and dimensions. Building on the notion of youth participation and
empowerment, this paper tries to argue on the importance of youth involvement in the process of
decision making regarding issues that affect their life. Young people are particularly capable of en-
gaging in decision making processes, but this ability is often denied from parents, teachers, stake-
holders or other adults because they often do not consider youth as being capable enough to be
able to make decisions or take responsibility. One of the main objectives of this paper is to show
how such conceptualizations towards youth participation can be very frustrating or detrimental to-
wards their individuality. The paper proposes a few recommendations in regards to youth participa-
tion especially focusing on community engagement. In addition, social awareness, education and
strengthening youth /adult relationships are central in the process of overcoming the imbalance of
power and promoting agency.
Keywords:
Youth Participation, Empowerment, Social Awareness, Education, Agency, Adult/Youth
Relationship, Community Development
REV I EW
