Blog Post #1

The seven characteristics of Youth Work are:

1. Educational practice
2. Social practice
3. Challenging inequality and work towards social justice
4. Where possible, young people choose to be involved
5. Strengthening the voice and influence of young people
6. Welfare practice
7. Works with young people 'holistically'

(1) When it comes to the education of our youth today, the Youth Work field primarily focuses on where the child is at academically versus where they need to be. We youth workers create ways to help the child grow in his/her education. A youth worker also gets involved with the youth outside of school to help them with their social abilities in the world. We promote growth in the child socially and academically while preparing them for the real world as they continue to grow. (2) Speaking of promoting the child socially, we youth workers help the youth by giving them advice and positive guidance. Youth work is truly a social practice, because we encourage the child to work on their relationship skills in another setting without us being there, therefore promoting self-confidence and boldness. (3) One of the most important things that we youth workers absolutely pursue is social justice. I believe that it is vital to teach a child the importance, and having the knowledge, of what is just and to stand up for it. Being a youth worker isn't about teaching our youth the difference between right and wrong, especially involving oppression and power, but we teach the importance of standing up for what you believe in. (4) The fact of the matter is that a youth worker is an important being in a child's life. We play a very important role when it comes to helping the youth understand how to take what they've learned in school and to apply it in their everyday lives...pretty much the real world. Knowledge is power, so our jobs as youth workers are to show the youth that your learning does not have to stop when you leave school, but that there is plenty to learn from whether it is from our social environment or academic life. Of course the child has little to say about whether they want to go to school, because they are forced to go, but we youth workers become a part of what they learn in school, while guiding, mentoring, and supporting them throughout their journey. (5) We youth workers take the time, while guiding the child, to help them find their voice and to prepare them to make a difference in the world they live in. We remind them that the things they are learning in school can be used to raise their voices to create positive change. (6) Youth work does not only motivate kids to make something of themselves, but we also take the time to see how they are doing. We believe that what a child may be going through can affect his/her outcome in their only lives, whether that means personal problems, failures, etc. We take on the challenge of working with youth who may need an extra push despite their circumstances. (7) We youth workers work holistically with youth involving their school life and personal life. We take on the challenge of crossing social work with the educational field of work by supporting, encouraging, and challenging our youth to remain strong during difficult times. Our jobs as youth workers are not babysitting jobs, but are very important when it comes to the lives of our youth. We make a difference when we become the bridge over troubled waters between the educational life and social life for our youth.