Skip to main content

Translate

User account menu

  • Go to YouthLead.org
  • Search
YouthPower
YouthPower

Main navigation

  • About
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • YOUTHPOWER APPROACH
    • YOUTHPOWER2: APS
    • YouthPower site map
  • PYD APPROACH 
    • PYD Learning Agenda
    • PYD Starter Toolkit
    • PYD Framework
    • PYD Measurement Toolkit
    • USAID YOUTH PROJECTS
    • Youth Assessments
  • What Works
    • What Works OVERVIEW
    • WHAT WORKS IN CROSS SECTORAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH
    • WHAT WORKS IN YOUTH AND AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, AND NUTRITION
    • WHAT WORKS IN YOUTH AND DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND GOVERNANCE
    • WHAT WORKS IN YOUTH AND HEALTH
    • WHAT WORKS IN YOUTH AND PEACE AND SECURITY
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • New Toolkit: MHPSS for Marginalized and Underrepresented Groups
    • Toolkit: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
    • DASHBOARD: YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
    • YOUTHPOWER RESOURCES BY TOPIC
    • TOOLKIT: GLOBAL LEAD
    • Guide : Labor Market Assessment
    • empty-menu6
    • TOOLKIT: ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH HIV
    • GUIDE: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT MEASUREMENT
    • empty-menu3
    • Toolkit: Soft Skills For PYD
    • Guide: Youth-Inclusive Agricultural
    • empty-menu4
    • Toolkit: Youth center
    • empty-menu5
    • empty-menu2
    • Toolkit: Youth Inclusion in Democracy, Human Rights, Governance
  • Events
    • All Events
    • ALL YOUTHPOWER2: LEARNING AND EVALUATION EVENTS
  • News
    • All News
    • NEW PODCAST: PYDLAB
    • Blogs
Photo of adolescent girl working on blackboard at school
Creating Safe Spaces, Youth Centers, and After-School Programs
YOUTH CENTER TOOLKIT

 Who is this toolkit for?What does the evidence tell us?What are safe spaces, centers, and after-school programsSetting Up Your ProgramSetting up OperationsManaging, Scaling, and Partnershipsexpansion, collaboration, or replicationMonitoring and Evaluation

ABOUT

 

About This Toolkit

Youth Center Toolkit CoverMany effective youth programs center around public safe spaces where youth can share ideas, learn new skills, and have constructive use of their non-school or work time. Having a safe space gives youth an opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar experiences and challenges. As a consequence, safe spaces can promote healing, empowerment, and resilience. These programs provide a set time and place for youth to engage with each other and in activities that range from education to sports to civic engagement. USAID is committed to developing resources that help youth in their Positive Youth Development (PYD) journey. To learn more about PYD, please see, What is Positive Youth Development or “PYD”?

Garnered from global research, this toolkit provides resources and examples of constructive youth safe spaces (YSS), including after-school programs (ASP) and youth centers (YC). These are collectively referred to as YSS/YC/ASPs throughout this toolkit.

 

 

Who is this Toolkit for?

  • Youth practitioners will easily be able to focus on the elements of quality programs that are necessary for high-impact outcomes.
  • Youth-led organizations will be able to create or improve an existing youth-focused space with an emphasis on quality programming and management.
  • Community leaders will learn what is needed to build a youth safe space/center/program in your community.
  • Donors will find effective practices to support.

This online version of the toolkit provides a brief overview of the complete toolkit.

 

 

This toolkit helps readers:

  • Understand the components of strong models for YSS/YC/ASPs.
  • Learn how to design and improve programming effectiveness using evidence-based principles and practices.
  • Learn how to create sustainability through ongoing monitoring and improvement practices.
  • Learn how to improve your resource mobilization to scale your program.
  • Know how to find online resources for youth programming and curricula.

 

Download full toolkit button.

 

 

Access the launch event webinar recording and slides here.

Explore the Toolkit

  Who is this toolkit for?What does the evidence tell us?What are safe spaces, centers, and after-school programsSetting Up Your ProgramSetting up OperationsManaging, Scaling, and Partnershipsexpansion, collaboration, or replicationMonitoring and Evaluation

Access YouthPower.org content:

  • ABOUT
  • PYD APPROACH
  • WHAT WORKS
  • RESOURCES
  • EVENTS
  • NEWS
  • YOUTHPOWER SITE MAP
USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development)
PEPFAR
 
  • Credits
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
The information provided on this website is not official U.S. government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Making Cents International.