Positive Youth Development

As January is Youth Mentoring Month I thought I would take timeout this week to touch on a few key components of Positive Youth Development in the Mentoring scene.
There are many factors and components that factor into positive youth development.  This week we are going to touch on four of those components.

Todays key component is: Engagement

Young people need opportunities to engage in meaningful activities, have a voice, take responsibility for their actions, and actively participate in civic discourse.  When youth are not engaged in meaningful activities or in environments that honor their voice, they are at risk for feeling their existence has no meaning for others or themselves.  Any social exchange that promotes validity in youth voice and experience will decrease risk factors that result from disconnection from self and others, or from past or current negative social engagements.

Remember to come back tomorrow as we talk about the component of:  Connectedness

HENRY/MARTINSVILLE 4-H YOUTH & FAMILIES WITH PROMISE
FAMILY DAY OUT FOR JANUARY IS THIS SATURDAY!  
Location:
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY  (Beside Martinsville YMCA)
DINO DAYS FESTIVAL
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 
MEET ON FRONT STEPS AT 9:45AM at the Museum!
(We will enter at 10:00 as a group.  No charge for you and your family, if you enter with group.  Please send email to laliberty@vt.edu  or call so we have an idea of headcount to be expected.  Please both Mentor and Mentee families respond.)

Have a wonderful week!

Lisa R. Laliberty
4-H YFP Mentor Educator
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Henry/Martinsville (276) 634-4653
City of Danville (434) 766-6761
laliberty@vt.edu