Civic Education
Needs analysis We have been asked by the board to start identifying a project that will be our flagship project and that will bring something new to the organization and to the town. Since there are many young people and delinquency is talked about all over, the board would be happy if the project would somehow address the issue. Delinquency is indeed a serious problem and is also damaging for the image of young people. But we wonder whether it is really a problem of sociability and education of the youngsters (mostly boys) or whether it is a symptom resulting from other problems, namely unemployment, poverty, and the presence of drugs. We decide:
• to go out to where young people meet and listen to what they say about it;
• to organize an informal meeting to discuss that with the young people;
• to talk with the school staff and the local police;
• to talk with the Parents Association;
• to have a meeting with other local (youth) associations.
1. Read the text and find the passages that express the following:
a. It makes young people look bad.
b. It is because young people have no work and no money.
c. The most important project.
d. Deal with the problem.
2. Now compare the needs analysis to a project you have worked on or a project you are currently planning. Discuss the following questions.
a. Why is the project necessary and important?
b. In which community/social context is it placed?
c. What are the problems faced by the youth/community?
• How, and by whom, were they identified?
• What are the causes of those problems?
• What are the priorities, the main needs?
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ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WORK
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