Writing Style 3

Positive Youth Development through School Project: A School-Based Intervention
Developing drama programs to facilitate positive youth development is especially important in communities experiencing social exclusion to allow youth’s the opportunity to develop life skills in preparation for adulthood. Positive youth development is a broad notion that “includes the development of diverse competencies that can help a young person in sport, in their current life and/or in their future” (Gould & Carson, 2008, p. 59). Many studies have shown that sport, drama and dance experiences are an ideal setting to promote positive youth development as they can result in better educational attainments; communication with family and peers and risk avoidance (Conroy & Coatsworth, 2006; Carruthers, 2006). Sport experiences also foster social success, positive peer relationships and life skills such as leadership, teamwork and goal setting (Fraser-Thomas, Cote & Deakin, 2005; Danish, Forneris & Wallace, 2005).
Youth culture involves social phenomena such as music, clothing, hair styles, films and magazines. Early conceptualisations of youth culture tended to focus on young people as a problem group within society. Subsequently, the concept of subculture, which refers to groups within broader culture that maintains some type of distinctive behaviours, values, goals, was initially associated with delinquent or deviant youth. As Blackman (2005) writes, ‘one interesting aspects of subcultures are the way in which they contrast with the dominant norms and values of society (p.2) (Girginov, V, 2008). These programs are directed at socially excluded or disadvantaged youths to re- engage them in school, improve attendance rates and develop life skills.
The aims of teaching youths at risk are to increase inclusion, develop life skills and to improve attitude and commitment to education. In order to achieve these aims specific outcomes will be set. Intended outcomes are for selected students approximately for 15- 20 youths, these programmes normally last for twenty five hours each week over a period of twelve weeks.
As I have been researching youths at risk and what Become A Star does for young teenagers I think that there needs to be more government funding for projects like this, I agree that these particular projects rehabilitate youths in a good way and gives them an understanding of what it means to take responsibility of themselves and others around them. These schemes serve a lot of purpose, value and relevance and the teaching strategies that are put into place are just what the youths need to make sure they are progressing and getting the help that they seek. I would like to get more involved and work with young people in the community teaching them how to express their emotions through drama, dance & sport as I know it will give them a well deserved chance to be the best that they can be in our society. These projects with the right funding and government support can be very effective and successful. I feel that these schemes need to be put into more communities. The youth of today are always being undermined and portrayed in a bad light, society needs to have more faith in the youth and people need to try and understand that the youth is the future. It is essential that we enable young people to see themselves as participants in one of the most exciting eras in history, and to have a sense of purpose in relation to it (Nelson, Rockefeller, 2009) (Katz, N, 2005).