Parental participation in youth development programs

Abstract

This report presents findings of the study entitled “parental participation in youth development programs;A case study of Masodde Resource Centre.” The objectives of the study included the following 1. To investigate the current level and kinds of involvement in youth development programs at MRC by parents, including other care givers and representatives of the community 2. To find out the barriers toparental /or community participation in youth development programs at MRC and. 3To identify strategies that may increase the participation of parents and community members in youth development program at MRC. The study was carried out in Masodde resource Centre (MRC) foundWatuba Subcounty in Kyankwanzi. MRC is a community-based resource Centre supported by Community Efforts for Child Empowerment (CECE) an NGO operating in kyankwanzi District. The study adopted a case study design and qualitative data collection method were used. Data was collected using interviews, FGDs, observation and Document review and analyzed qualitatively using content analysis Findings of the study indicate that majority of the parents are involved in the youth development programs atMRC. That is to say they are involved in different ways for example, providing them with scholastic materials, paying their school fees, they attend to meetings at MRC, provide Counselling and Guidance. Furthermore, parents also provide some basic necessitiesto their children like provision of sanitary towels to the girls, transport upto the training Centre. However, the kindof support varied according to the course a youth offers, and also the social economic context of the parent. Further still the level of involvement varied much as MRC wanted parents to pay, very many parents were seen struggling to get the money so that their children do not mis the training though majority would in instalments. Findings for the barriers to parental/ community participation included, fear to be requested to pay the remaining school fees, Negative attitude towards vocational training especially by male parents, lack of confidence to some parents to join meetings, multiple roles and responsibilities, long distances and communication challenge. However, findingsreveals majority of the parents attend to meetings that are invited and very few visit MRC when un invited. Findings for Interventions that may increase parental/ community participation in YDP included, parents’ beings integrated inYDP from the planning to Evaluation phase, continuous sensitization about the importance of parental participation in YDP at MRC, conducting meetings in differentcommunities, involving parents in leadership positions at different levels, income generating activities, and having success stories from those youth who passed through MRC that can act as role models. However, majority of the parents reported that for them they just take their children at the Centre but they are not involved from the planning phase instead they find everything set for them. In conclusion parents in kyankwanzi district struggle to provide scholastic materials depending on the social economic context of that parent, however their also some barriers but majority of the parents still get involved in the YDP at MRC, as an adult and community educator as away to increase innervations MRC should adopt a bottom top approach As an adult and community education, I recommend to CECE to adopt a bottom top approach so that community members can feel a sense of ownership, empowered, secure, and sustain the project in order to transform their socities.