Peer-reviewed article

Re-conceptualising youth participation: A framework to inform action

Helen Cahill, Babak Dadvand · 2 Nov 2018

Abstract

To date, various participation models have been proposed to assist those who want to involve young people in program design, delivery and evaluation. These models tend to classify participatory practices, and often use hierarchical structures which do not account well for the socio-cultural contexts in which participation takes place. In this paper, we draw upon scholarship in the fields of feminist, post-structural and critical theory, as well as youth studies, and citizenship research to propose a new framework for conceptualising and planning for youth participation in programs. The framework directs attention towards the seven inter-connected domains of purpose, positioning, perspective, power relations, protection, place and process. To illustrate the framework, we draw on our experience of two youth projects which address HIV prevention in countries within the Asia-Pacific region. We demonstrate how using the framework helped to strengthen the vision, quality and impact of the programs.