Home > Overview > Youth Involvement

Youth are integrally involved in all stages of TeenNet's project design, development, implementation, and evaluation. TeenNet’s youth involvement mechanisms include focus groups, working groups, work placements, employed positions, advisory groups, quality review groups, youth forums, reality checks and evaluations.

TeenNet also researches models for youth engagement through our Global Youth Voices (GYV) project. Global Youth Voices uses low-end technologies (art, video, photography) and high-end Internet-based technologies to engage youth in issue identification and community action. Resulting artwork and action projects are featured on the Global Youth Voices website, www.globalyouthvoices.org. The GYV site also serves as a showcase for all of TeenNet’s youth participants, from youth advisors to co-op students.

TeenNet is committed to supporting authentic and meaningful youth engagement. This work is guided by TeenNet's Youth Voice model:

• Engage youth in expressing themselves on their lives and communities.
• Identify issues and themes of importance to young people.
• Plan projects that address youth concerns and priorities.
• Act for youth-driven community development and social change.
• Reflect, Research and Reward in order to recognize achievements and document learning.
• Sustain growth and development of youth-driven initiatives.