Capacity building of youth as protagonists for better society Faculty of Public Health Annual Conference, Telford 21 June, 2017

Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing (Published online May 9, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00579-1 1) “Unprecedented global forces are shaping the health and wellbeing of the largest generation of 10 to 24 year olds in human history. ….. we have come to new understandings of adolescence as a critical phase in life for achieving human potential. During adolescence, an individual acquires the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and economic resources that are the foundation for later life health and wellbeing. Investments in adolescent health and wellbeing bring benefits today, for decades to come, and for the next generation.”

Building the foundations for sustainable development: a case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents (Lancet, April 19, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(17)30872-3) Investment in the capabilities of the world’s 1·2 billion adolescents is vital to the UN’s Sustainable Development Action and investment to ensure that adolescents and young adults develop the capabilities for adult life is now a pressing agenda Coordinated investments in adolescent health and wellbeing provide high economic and social returns and are among the best investments that can be made by the human community to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

What are the capacities and capabilities which need to be nurtured and developed to benefit the health and wellbeing of the individual, the community and the society?

‘The misery of youth: Teenagers depressed and fearful as drink, drugs and crime take their toll’ July 2008, Daily Mail

Youth often seen as problematic in throes of tumultuous physical and emotional change Public health professionals focus on lifestyles and risk factors such as smoking, drugs and sexual behaviour WHO European 2020 Policy highlight key role of asset based approaches

Assets and deficits What makes us strong? Risk factors: Fitness What factors make us more resilient (more able to cope in times of stress)? What opens us to more fully experience life? Risk factors: Fitness Body Fat Cholesterol Smoking Excess alcohol and other drugs

The Asset Model… The Asset Model ‘..policy development has focused too much on the failure of individuals and local communities to avoid disease rather than their potential to create and sustain health and continued development’ Source: Morgan and Ziglio (2007) The more we provide young people with opportunities to experience and accumulate the positive effects of protective factors (health assets), the more likely they are to achieve and sustain mental well being in later life

Youth Empowerment Programme for community betterment through social action Positive vision of young people, acknowledging their altruism, sense of justice, eagerness to learn about the world they live in and contribute to their communities

community betterment through social action – striving for excellence “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable seemly conduct”. Baha’u’llah

Junior Youth Empowerment Programme Focus on junior youth aged 12 to 15 years (between childhood and youth) A peer group that meets weekly in order to: Study materials to enhance powers of expression Consult on, devise, and carry out service projects Engage in artistic activities Participate in recreation and sports activities Twofold purpose: Personal development (eg developing powers of expression and perceptions) Practical contribution to the community and society Groups facilitated by animators, who support capacity building through promoting understanding, acquiring knowledge, developing attitudes and gaining skills and abilities

Key Messages Young people are key assets in any community and should not be viewed as problematic whose risk factors need to be controlled Youth are key protagonists for betterment of society, who need to be supported to take control of their health, wellbeing and development.