Address and take into account the needs of young people in our community

Community Development Model

"By offering young people opportunities to engage in meaningful community activity, young people develop awareness of individual and community responsibility and benefit through voluntary action. Community recognition of young people as valued contributors in their communities encourages active citizenship and social inclusion” (Ministry of Youth Affairs, Australia, 2001, p. 11).

The forth principle of New Zealand’s suicide prevention strategy is to encourage the participation of young people in all aspects of community life, and in decisions which impact upon them, so that “if young people can actively participate in their communities, they are more likely to have a sense of self-worth and purpose in life and take responsibility for their actions”.

Youthline programmes such as the Youth Advisory Group encourage wider understanding and acceptance of youth perspectives on issues.

 

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