YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Youth empowerment is the development of the ability of the youth to take control of their lives, make responsible decision, behave well, participate in, and contribute to their communities. Empowerment enables people to acquire the skills and knowledge that will enable them to overcome obstacle so as to be able to develop themselves and the society. It is an important process of ensuring that the youth develop the skills needed to live a decent life, behave responsibly and play their roles in the development of their country. Youth empowerment activities are measures used to promote the economic self-reliance of young people.

Youth Empowerment Skills.

A skill is the ability to do something well. It means having expertize in a particular field. There are specific skills that can help the youth to realize their potentials, behave well and contribute to the good of their communities. These skills include:

1.     Life Coping or life Skills: these are skills that enable the youth to fend for themselves and  become self-reliant rather than depend on their parents or the government to be able to feed, clothe and house themselves. E.g vocational/technical skills like carpentry, parenting skills, home management, event management, video production, entrepreneurial skills etc.

2.     Critical Thinking Skills: These are skills that involve thinking correctly. It means being able to understand and interpret facts and evidence in order to make sound judgment about issues. Critical thinking skills involve being dispassionate in thinking about issues, rather than making decision on the basis of bias and sentiment. These skills are usually taught in formal educational system. They include creative thinking, making decision, solving problems etc.

3.     Communicative Skills: These are skills that enable the youth to interact with others in a healthy and responsible manner. They are also skills that enable the youth to express themselves effectively or use information and communication technology to interact. Example, public speaking skills, writing skills, using the computer etc.

4.     Manipulative Skills: These are skills in which a person learn to handle objects with precision in accordance with speed and control. These largely involve physical activities with the use of hands and body coordination to execute task. E.g barbing, engraving data entry, bricklaying etc.

5.     Artistic Skills: These are skills that enable an individuals to physically express their ideas in the form of graphics, music, dance, and so on. They include work in the museum, entertainment or publishing industry. These skills include writing fiction, poetry, editing, painting, sketching, creating computer graphic drawing, singing, dancing etc.

Importance of youth empowerment.

Youth empowerment skills provide benefits for both the individual and his/her community in the following ways:

a.      Youth empowerment skills enhance the self-confidence of the youth, making them more aware of their personal strength and weakness, thereby motivating them to improve on their abilities.

b.     Youth empowerment enables the youth to improve on their hidden talents and skills, and acquires some other empowerment skills as well.

c.      Youth empowerment focuses on teamwork. They therefore, build trust, cooperative spirit and supportive team behavior.

d.     Youth empowerment enables the youth to deal with personal and community problems.

e.      Youth empowerment skills contribute to national economic growth and development, by providing gainful employment for the youth.

f.       Youth empowerment skills enable youth to set up their own business thereby promoting the growth of the economy.

Assignment

Identify and explain your skill. Give four benefits of the identified skill to you and your society