Initiators
Initiators get young people ‘through the door’ and ‘to the table’!
“Get out of the way of youth. Let them drive initiatives!”
(Working Group Participant)
Incentivizing youth to contribute and intergenerational structures spark youth interest and deepen engagement in prevention initiatives. These desires shape strategies for recruitment and working in adult-youth partnership.
What Incentivizes Youth to Show Up
- Food, honoraria, gift cards, swag
- Compensate youth for their time (e.g., salary, honoraria, volunteer hours)
- Education or career advancement (letters of recommendation)
- Obstacles for participation are removed
Recruitment Approaches
- Bring the initiative to where youth are (virtual and in-person space)
- Leverage existing networks and trusting relationships to source youth buy-in
- Recruit youth who are furthest from opportunity (i.e., not just youth who initially show interest)
- Translate materials to all local languages
Attractive Program Structures
- Relationship-building is a core to project activities
- Activities are fun and engaging!
- Youth see their purpose and role within the project
- Youth feel like adults are interested in hearing their voice.
Intergenerational Supports and Strategies
- Slow down timelines to build strong relationships with youth
- Create multiple pathways for youth contribution and leadership
- Provide supportive roles and structures for mentoring and supporting youth growth
- Foster non-judgmental, comfortable spaces for contribution
Unrealistic [project] deadlines...can be a challenge to slow down to the speed of trust to make meaningful engagement.”
(Working Group Participant)
Overarching Principles to Initiate Youth Engagement
There are 3 overarching principles to consider throughout an initiative to initiate youth involvement:
- Tailor communication, spaces, and project structures around youth interest and involvement (e.g., in their language on their preferred platform, fun and engaging spaces)
- Help young people see their role and value in the project early on.
- Prioritize trust and building-relationships among youth and adults.
Jump to other Key Sections of Youth Shift
“Let youth lead” (Working group participant)
(Working Group Participant)
More on initiators and strategies for onboarding youth into a project can be found in the Youth Shift download!
Download the Full Youth Shift Framework and Guide