Youth Needs - Princess Velvet

As the famous Scottish essayist, poet and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1895) said: 
 
“Youth is the time to go flashing from one end of the world to the other… to try the manners of different nations; to hear the chimes at midnight; to see the sunrise in town and country; to be converted at a revival; to circumnavigate the metaphysics, write halting verses, run a mile to see a fire, and wait all day long in the theatre to applaud Hernani.”

How can we make sure that young people get the chance to fulfil their dreams and wishes? The enjoyment of the pleasures of this age? To give the opportunity of youth life?

A very important step is for a country to have a Youth Policy and the Malta National Youth Policy states that the State recognises rights, safeguards, appreciates, encourages, promotes supports, facilitates, creates and organises opportunities for employment

Youth development principles emphasize the importance of meeting four basic human needs: Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity.

If young people's needs are met in positive ways, they will develop characteristics that most of us would relate to character:

•   Youngsters who experience belonging tend to be trusting and friendly people.
•   Young people with productive opportunities to experience mastery tend to become problem-solvers who are motivated and achievement-oriented
•   Young people who experience opportunities to be independent become confident and self-disciplined leaders, and those who experience generosity become caring and empathic people.

If youth needs are met in negative ways, uncatered-for needs can become defining factors in the lives of young people:

•   Youngsters seek to belong through promiscuous or clinging behaviours.
•   Youngsters attempt to feel mastery by cheating or developing delinquent skills.
•   Youngsters try to establish independence by being bullies or through defiant behaviour.
•   Youngsters are unable to establish their identity to lose themselves in constantly giving.

The youth worker is there to help and enable young people to achieve their needs, keeping in mind that throughout history there were and always will be people who take advantage of their need for Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity.