There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children. —Nelson Mandela
The opportunities for out area youth can be improved by many things that do not exist now. Enhancing the quality of existing youth programs and increasing the number of program will involve all elements of our community. In order for youth to be prepared to work in partnership with adults, they need to develop and/or enhance their leadership skills. Leadership training prepares youth to manage time, work as a team, set goals, start conversations, facilitate meetings, and make effective presentations. Promoting youth leadership development is a great way to promote positive life skills learning.
To fully participate with adults, youth also need to be informed about the adult perspective of the problem, challenge or issue being discussed: the jargon that adults use to describe their work; and strategies for approaching the work. In other words, we need to be sure the field is level for all of the players.
Education is the underlining theme in all aspects of OSDPC initiatives. As part of its youth retreat students were able to showcase their talents by dancing and performing in front of their peers. After the performance, attendees talked about the rendition to understand the motivation on the young artists.
If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man’s future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual’s total development lags behind?
—Maria Montessori
