The Benefits of Community Engagement for Youth
With summer just around the corner, our staff are busy helping youth to arrange work placements, find employment or to volunteer in their communities. Engaging in a community can be an incredibly enriching experience for anyone, especially young people as they take on the challenge of learning about and contributing to the world around them. Whether it be through participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering, or working, community engagement has many benefits for both youth and for the communities that are fortunate enough to have them involved.
Benefits for Youth
Increased Knowledge of Resources
When youth are involved in the community, it gets them out into the world and draws their attention to what resources and opportunities are available. Knowing what is available to them is the first step in accessing those resources or pursuing those opportunities. These can range anywhere from special programs that they can use to reach their goals to activities that will help nurture their passions. Not only does community engagement increase their knowledge of these resources, it allows them to see that these resources are attainable.
Learning Experiences
Young adulthood is an exciting time because people have a lot to discover about themselves and the world around them. Being an involved citizen is a great way for youth to explore opportunities and further develop their interests. They can explore what they are passionate about and in doing so, gain knowledge about the world and build valuable skills that they can use in their adult lives. Not only is this exploration important for their future endeavours, but it also gives them a sense of fulfillment. Fulfillment comes with dedicating ourselves to what we believe is worthwhile. Taking time for the things that are important to us and what makes us happy is a great way to achieve that.
Building Connections
When youth get involved in the community, they get a chance to interact with all kinds of other people, which has many social, career, and mental health benefits. Interacting with others on a regular basis helps with developing good interpersonal skills that are valuable for all areas of life. Community engagement also helps youth to network within the community as they meet like-minded people who can lead them to other opportunities that they might not have accessed otherwise. Apart from gaining skills, contributing to something bigger than yourself gives people a sense of belonging and reminds them that they are not alone. Having that proper support system and a social circle of people that we can relate to is tremendously beneficial for mental wellness.
Benefits for the Community
Community Improvement
Having youth involved in the community is not just beneficial for the youth, but for the community as a whole. Like adults, youth are also being impacted by what is happening in the world around them and can offer valuable perspectives. By having youth involved in the community, it gives them a voice and gives communities a better sense of how to accommodate a broader population of people.
Fostering Relationships
It can sometimes feel as if there is a disconnect between the older and younger generations. When youth are incorporated into the community, there are many opportunities to interact with people of all ages. By involving youth in what is going on and listening to what they have to say, it builds trust and understanding between generations. Empowering youth to have a voice fosters healthy communication and demonstrates the importance of collective action and understanding.
Fostering Relationships
As we all know, youth are the leaders of tomorrow. They have the capacity and drive to commit to long-term efforts in ways that others cannot. Young people tend to be very open-minded and adaptable, which are valuable skills when developing solutions for a community. As a result, they have a lot to offer a community if given the opportunities to do so. These opportunities help them recognize that their voice matters, building the confidence needed for good leadership. As they participate in their communities, they are empowered to continue being involved citizens throughout the rest of their lives.
Whether it be an activity or a job, there are so many ways to interact in a community setting. Youth make up a big part of the community and being engaged in what is going on, both in participation and leadership, is beneficial for both youth and for the community as a whole!
- Sophie Ashton, Co-op student