DESIGN
Assessment and Setting Up Your Program: Objectives
An assessment of needs and priorities should guide development of program objectives. Through conducting research through surveys and other forms of feedback to evaluate the strengths and needs of youth, organizers can get a clear understanding of the environment as well as better understand the priorities of the relevant youth demographics. A range of different tools exist for these assessments.[4] A youth needs and asset analysis should include youth at every step, and, ideally, be participatory. You should determine what information or data is readily available, what additional information you need, and what will be the sources for that information. Then, you should develop a plan for how to get that information and conduct a data review, which might involve participatory methods such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, or community meetings.
A program’s objectives should be clear, measurable, and potentially scalable, (meaning they could be applied more broadly; either for more youth or in more settings) as they will help guide the creation and development of activities.
For example, in USAID El Salvador’s work with Outreach Centers, they identified the following objectives:
- Offer youth a community haven to prevent violence and promote youth development.
- Reduce risk factors affecting youth in the community.
- Offer training and life skills opportunities for employment and life.
- Mobilize community members to participate as volunteers.
- Restore or strengthen youth and family relations.
- Develop a sense of identity and belonging among beneficiaries, volunteers, and community members.
- Promote a desire for personal growth through training activities, service, and life skills.
- Encourage and strengthen moral and spiritual values of children and youth.
Theory of Change:
When developing program objectives, it is useful to identify the expected theory of change. A theory of change is a logical representation that articulates the relationships between the project and the improvements it is designed to bring about. The model uncovers the assumptions for how project activities will address targeted issues.
Exercise:
“If we (activity) conduct regular life skills training, provide opportunities to put these skills in practice, and facilitate a safe, conducive environment, then (outcome) youth will demonstrate better decision-making and relational skills. As a result, (impact) youth will avoid risky behaviors.”
This exercise will help planners test their assumptions about whether the proposed activities will lead to the desired results; objectives can be adjusted to ensure they are realistic and well-aligned.
Analyzing the Needs and the Operating Environment
Programming and activities should be determined by an analysis of the existing resources, specific needs of the youth, and context in which the YSS/YC/ASP is operating. The more these activities are informed by analysis, ideally involving the young people who will be participating, the more likely the programs will be successful. Below are some useful resources:
- A tool to assist organizations assess and strengthen youth programs: Youth Programming Assessment Tool (YPAT) | USAID
- A three step tool to analyze and strengthen youth activities: Youth-Compass: A Strategic Guide to Strengthen Youth Activities | USAID
- Step-by-step guide for addressing community needs: Community Toolbox | University of Kansas
- Promoting community health and development: Building Stronger Communities | YouthLead
- Community asset-mapping to plan for a youth center: Volume 3 Community Mapping Guide | UN-Habitat
Vision Setting: Articulating the Objectives of Your Desired Programs
“Your vision is your dream. It’s what your organization believes are the ideal conditions for your community; that is, how things would look if the issue important to you were completely, perfectly addressed.” Examples might be a community where youth are valued partners or a world without racism. Below are some useful resources:
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | (e.g., GrassRoots Hub in Ghana)
- Local, state, provincial, and national government metrics. | (e.g., Early childhood development in South Africa)
- YouthLead | Developing a Strategic Plan
- Plan It On a Post It | Objectives planning worksheet
- Boston University | How to write clear objectives
Setting Up Your Program: Selecting Program Activities
The identified needs and clearly defined objectives of the program or organization will drive the selection of the activities. These activities should be identified by youth and key partners as being relevant to the context and interesting to the youth.[5]
Effective youth centers have a defined curriculum that responds to the various interests and needs of young people. The curriculum can be modular (such as life skills training) or integrated (life skills using sports as the approach or methodology) depending on the interests, available resources, and objectives of the program. These curriculum types include athletics, advocacy, mentorship, health, education, and more. While curriculum type varies depending on program goals and targeted participants, many organizations combine active learning or an activity with soft skills development (e.g., a program that teaches both art and communication), or a sports program that teaches work-readiness skills.
Here are sample program activities:
- Advocacy
- Vocational Training and Mentorship
- Health (Physical and Mental)
- Education
- Volunteering and Civic Engagement
- Leadership
- Women and Girls’ Empowerment
- Sports and Outdoors
- Music and Culture
Effective curricula are flexible and provide a mix of relevant technical as well as soft skills (i.e., leadership, teamwork, life skills, etc.). The development of soft skills is deeply intertwined with academic and technical skill development and will all ultimately help youth prepare for their adult roles in the family, in the world of work, or as active citizens. Read more about soft skills and YouthPower’s learning on soft skills models.
Find Program Activities and Curricula by Topic here.
[4] The Community Tool Box, a service of the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources.
[5] Youth Development Centers and Programs in the Middle East and North Africa Region Report - USAID 2020
Explore the Toolkit