Abstract
Rural youth development in Nicaragua has experienced a rebirth with the re-introduction of 4-H (4-S in Spanish) after nearly two decades in dormancy. This case study explored 4-S through the eyes of 94 young club members, ages 9 to 13. Using sentence completion methods, youth provided insight into the activities they found most interesting and important. Their responses were then compared with the socioeconomic and demographic realities of the youth. Findings reveal deep connections between youth and their communities and culture. Entrepreneurial activities, agriculture, and work were important to the young people, indicating a strong sense of responsibility for contributing to their families and communities. Understanding 4-S members’ interests and ideas can serve local leaders in developing activities that reflect members’ interests and tap into their strengths.
Highlights
Latin America as a region has drastically reduced its poverty levels over the last decade (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), & World Food Programme (WFP), 2013); yet in spite of this surge in development, many individual countries in the region still struggle with high rates of poverty (FAO, IFAD, & WFP, 2015)
The current study focuses on expanding extracurricular opportunities for young people by exploring which activities 4-S club members value and consider important
In El Mojón, young people expressed interest in other cultures; this may be the result of the visits they receive from volunteers from all over the world who go to work on projects there and get involved in the community
Summary
Latin America as a region has drastically reduced its poverty levels over the last decade (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), & World Food Programme (WFP), 2013); yet in spite of this surge in development, many individual countries in the region still struggle with high rates of poverty (FAO, IFAD, & WFP, 2015). One such country is Nicaragua, considered one of the poorest countries in the region with 37% of its population suffering from chronic poverty (Vakis, Rigolini, & Lucchetti, 2015). The Journal of Youth Development is the official peer-reviewed publication of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents and the National AfterSchool Association.
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