|
Governments, funders and charity organizations increasingly encourage young people to be involved in the processes that affect their lives and communities. The period of adolescence is critical in the development of habits and competencies that can affect young people's well-being and resilience throughout their lives.
From the author
Author Matthew Morton points out the relevance of this study for today's youth and the need for more research in this area: As the UK riots have shown, when young people lack supports and opportunities to apply themselves in positive ways, destructive behavior can be a consequence. Youth empowerment programs facilitate young people's positive participation in the processes that affect their lives and communities. Empowerment programs may offer important developmental experiences for vulnerable young people. Yet, our review concludes that despite growing interest in youth empowerment, very little rigorous evaluation of impacts has taken place.