Findings

Young people and : Reflections on meaningful and sustainable participation

By Anke van der Kwaak, Karen ’t Hooft, Klaartje Spijkers and Colin Dixon

Dance4life participants during the international youth council training held in the UK. (Photo courtesy of dance4life).

The Royal Tropical Institute did research in 2011 to assess the impact of school- In 2011, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) based dance4life programmes on young people in Uganda and Russia. This article carried out an impact research of dance4life’s discusses the concept of meaningful participation using findings from the study. programmes in Uganda and Russia using What does this concept mean and which models exist to analyse the different a mixed-method approach. Two hundred aspects of participation? It is concluded that participation not only becomes questionnaires were completed and 12 meaningful if young people are actively involved and have a voice, but also when focus group discussions and 44 in-depth it is sustainable and valued by the young people. interviews done with students (boys and girls) at secondary school level and between 13 Pregnancy and childbirth-related complications ones. More innovative and meaningful ways and 23 years old. Participation in this study are the leading cause of death among of achieving the youth’s involvement in refers to whether the programme realises full adolescents in developing countries.1 programme design and participation are involvement of young people, regardless of Moreover, young people are disproportionately needed, especially for the programmes their sex, identity, socio-economic status, affected by HIV. Information, access to targeting them. religion and race, and that the programmes condoms and related negotiation skills are encourage young people’s leadership and full dance4life is a globally-active organisation essential to avoid HIV – but less than a third participation in decisions affecting them (Van addressing sexual and reproductive health and of young people in developing countries der Kwaak, A. and ‘t Hooft, K. 2012 ). This rights (SRHR) and HIV issues affecting young know basic facts about HIV, and have limited article will discuss meaningful participation people. The organisation’s central mission is access to comprehensive sexuality education theoretically followed by some of the to generate a social movement that creates (Factsheet MDGs Goal 6 ). findings of the studies and some conclusive change at the global and community levels by observations. Few programmes involve the youth in taking actions to improve access to sexuality programme design or programme participation education and youth-friendly services, to Meaningful participation but this may be an effective strategy for challenge stigma and discrimination and to In a paper for STOP AIDS NOW! Stevenson developing new programming or scaling break taboos that surround sexuality, and (2007) notes “there is overwhelming evidence up existing interventions or scaling up new especially HIV and AIDS (dance4life, 2011 ).

FOUR 2012 7 Findings

that the participation of young people leads presented ranging from: young people we evaluated the following issues to better outcomes for projects, programmes are listened to, young people’s views relevant and related to the concept of and organisations. Through their participation, taken into account, young people participation: young people learn and develop and are involved in decision making processes, empowered. The participation of young • Influence on decision-making people is integral to the democratic ethos and and young people sharing power and strengthens society.” responsibility in decision-making (Shier Within the programme structures, the participation of young people in The question remains however: how can we 2008). decision-making is mainly at individual ensure meaningful participation of young In all these models it becomes clear people and what ways are the most effective? and club levels. It is not clear to what that ‘real’ participation means active Stevenson rightly mentions that participation extent they contribute to decisions involvement in decision-making, and becomes only meaningful if we see it from made at higher levels. A relatively the perspective of free agency: action on, for, that change will only happen when new structure – dance4life global with or by young people (Stevenson 2007) ibid. young people have responsibility and and national youth councils – aims leadership at all levels of programmes. Models of participation – A theoretical to ensure youth are able to guide and approach Impact of dance4life influence higher level decision making. A more in-depth analysis of the role of Different models of youth participation Findings from the impact evaluation youth councils seems relevant in this can be found in literature. In the Ladder of of the dance4life programmes in 5 perspective. Youth Voice by Adam Fletcher Fletcher Uganda and Russia confirmed that has added to the model developed by the programme had a positive impact • Ownership Roger Hart in 1992, which sought to on participants’ lives. In this study, Participants confirmed they devise and implement plans and this increases their feeling of ownership and responsibility. Discussion groups in schools and communities focusing on the needs of young people before involving them in a standardised programme might contribute to their sense of accountability. Organising training of trainers increases their sense of ownership and ensures improved sustainability. • Agency and ability Agency and ability to create change among peers, such as organising skills and informing others were mentioned by young people as something they learned and accomplished. Unexpected outcomes were also observed: young people organising informal meetings to inform others, the ability of people to speak in public and higher self-esteem. Sustaining youth participation Dance4life participants in the . (Photo courtesy of Dance4life). Sustained involvement of schools and encourage youth and adults to examine is not only beneficial to those young students in the programme proved to be why and how young people participate people who are participating, but also a challenge. It is not only how young throughout communities. The first two to other youth who are recipients people are involved or whether they rungs intended to represent forms of of improved services, policies, have decision-making power, but also non-participation, followed by three information and advocacy (Biedrzycki about long-term sustainability. Creating rungs of tokenism and finally three and Lawless, 2008). Young people real change and participation should not rungs that represent engagement of experienced considerable personal be a one-off event. Youth involvement youth as partners. In this context the development, for example, in the fields should be multilevel; they should not youth are increasingly seen as being of confidence, public speaking skills only perceive they have a voice but engaged as researchers, planners, and leadership skills. Shier’s Pathways also feel it and see the connectedness teachers, evaluators, decision-makers, to Participation model is useful in to others. and advocates (Fletcher 2011). assessing organisational readiness and Conclusion Headroom model of youth participation commitment to youth participation. It is prudent to examine models of argues that successful youth participation Different levels of involvement are participation. The outcomes reported in

8 FOUR 2012 Towards an HIV-free generation

References:

1.Factsheet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Goal 6. Available from URL: http://www.un.org/ millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_ FS_6_EN.pdf

2. Dance4life. 2010. dance4life International Strategy Paper. : dance4life International: website: www. Dance4life participants in Kyrgysztan. (Photo courtesy of dance4life). dance4life.com the Australian Head model are similar 3. Van der Kwaak, A. and ‘t to what was found in our study. We This article is based on a chapter Hooft, K. 2012. dance4life: argue that meaningful participation is for a book to be published soon by from dancing to daring, report only realistic when it is sustainable. the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) We can distinguish among different and Southern HIV and AIDS of an impact assessment levels of meaningful participation. At Information Dissemination Service in Uganda, Russia and the the individual level, participation can be (SAfAIDS) titled Towards an HIV- Netherlands meaningful, but how does this work at free generation: Addressing sexual and reproductive health needs of the collective or institutional level? young people and women. 4. Stevenson, N. 2007. At the collective level, participation is only sustainable when in reality power Anke van der Kwaak Meaningful participation shifts and becomes embedded in the Senior advisor and researcher of young people. Report policy and principles of the organisation Correspondence: prepared for the STOP AIDS implementing the programme. It should Development, Policy and Practice NOW! (SAN!) Partnership, be stressed that participation can only Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) Amsterdam, the Netherlands: be meaningful if young people’s voices Amsterdam, the Netherlands are heard, their ideas are taken into Tel: +3120568 8497 SAN! account and the programme in which E-mail: [email protected] they participate adds value to their life www.kit.nl and wellbeing 5. Fletcher, A. 2011. Ladder Karen ‘t Hooft of youth voice, accessed 28th Advisor and Researcher of April, 2012. Available from Correspondence: URL: http://www.freechild. Development, Policy and Practice org/ladder.htm Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) Lessons learnt Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tel: +3120568 8512 E-mail: [email protected] 6. Biedrzycki, K. and Lawless, www.kit.nl A. 2011. The Headroom Participants devise and model of youth participation Klaartje Spijkersr implement plans and Fundraising Manager – a conceptual and practical this increases their description South Australian. Correspondence: feeling of ownership and Available from URL http:// Masterpeace, Utrecht, som.flinders.edu.au/FUSA/ responsibility. the Netherlands Stuurmankade 254, 1019 WC, SACHRU/Publications/PDF/ Young people created Amsterdam Headroom_report.pdf E-mail: [email protected] change among peers. Colin Dixon Youth involvement should Director of Programmes 7. Shier, H. 2001. Pathways be multilevel; youth should to participation: Openings, Correspondence: opportunities and obligations. not only perceive they dance4life International Spuistraat 239, 1012 VP Children and Society: 15, 107- have a voice but also feel it Amsterdam, the Netherlands 117 and see the connectedness Tel: +31(0)20 521 6655 E-mail: [email protected] to others. www.dance4life.com

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