Stimulating Excellence in Youth Work II

back to my official duty as a volunteer youth worker in guiding the young people to be aware of their role in development ..... Profession as a youth worker has to go to the heart of articulating the niche of youth work and realising the value of investments in it.

• too often, [the youth education] debate has been dominated by those who are already qualified and well-established in their chosen field, rather than the new generation of workers who have the right to influence future developments.....
• there is a debate to be had about how best to equip people with the skills, knowledge, recognition and status to acquire the necessary professional expertise and continue to be rooted in their own communities. However, it is also very important to consider how these people can be given transferable skills and knowledge, recognition and accreditation so that they have the freedom and ability to practice in other areas or countries.

- Martin Notley for CYP, 1997.

The underpinning the themes of Youth Work education and Training are kept "alive and kicking" by the youth and development worker constantly asking themselves 4 questions:

1. what do i mean by personal and social education?
2. what is the social, economic and political context in which i live and work?
3. what do i do which encourages or prevents change?
4. how does the work setting and/or other structures affect what i do?

Our two previous modules, Module 13: Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues; and Module 11: Promoting Enterprise and Economic Development teaches us to identify how the youth worker can stimulate awareness of environmental issues among young people and help them make an active contribution to sustainable development. It looks at building environmental protection into economic and social development. Our Module 13's tutor brings our session more interactive by conducting field trip to JASTRE and also as module's requirement, we as the trainee were requested to do group presentation on environmental issues pertaining to the participation of the young people. While the other module, Module 11 covers the link between economic development and youth development work; skills for promoting self-employment and micro-enterprise.

Our next module (after Hari Raya) will be on Commonwealth Values in youth and development with Dr. Diana. This module will cover the democracy and human rights principles. Provides training in democratic styles of leadership; consensual decision-making; adapting to different cultures and religious belief; ensuring access for women and disabled people. It includes a general introduction to the Commonwealth as an institution, its decision-making structures and its key areas of work.

Upon completion of Module 6, there will be 2 more modules to go to complete this course.. Alhamdulillah.. "Tuntutlah Ilmu dari buaian hingga ke Liang Lahad"... Ya Allah permudahkan untuk menerima Ilmu.. Amin Ya Rabalallamin.