Putting Positive Youth Development Into Practice: A Resource Guide

Conclusion

In 1999, during an afternoon of rollerblading, two friends in their late teens got to talking about the valuable experiences they had had serving as youth leaders in their communities and nationally. Wouldn't it be great, they thought, if youth around the world could learn about and have access to similar opportunities? Within a year, the pair of young people, Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, had formed TakingITGlobal, a Web portal designed to foster communication, inspiration, and action in youth globally.

Hundreds of thousands of youth now visit the portal's five different language areas—English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian—each month. What's more, the site has since partnered with UNESCO, UNICEF, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and a variety of other adult-run organizations and businesses that have found value in TakingITGlobal's methods and results.

Champions of Positive Youth Development argue that powerful youth-led initiatives like TakingITGlobal are a direct result of young people being given the opportunities and tools they need to thrive in their own homes, schools, and communities. Once empowered locally, young people feel like they can move mountains, and many of them do.

This is only one example of the many promising local, national, and international initiatives dreamed up and put in to action by young people who see needs and fill them. Do you have such high expectations for youth in your community? With opportunities and encouragement, all young people could be mobilized to work side-by-side with adults to build thriving communities, a stronger Nation, and a freer, more equitable world.

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