Youth Advocacy: ICTs in Youth Work

Advocacy is not a new concept, and most people are not strangers to its existence or potential impact. While many of our parents would not have thought of a career in advocacy, people brought up in the latter half of the twentieth century and up to now would not consider it strange to choose a career in such a field. Advocacy has long been considered a cornerstone of social work. It has been a valuable tool used to provide assistance, to promote change and to give a voice to a cause, to individuals or to groups.

Nowadays, advocacy often occurs using a different medium from what was used in earlier times. Advocacy is now primarily promoted through and as a result of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) especially as it relates to the use of social media. At present, more than ever, we are aware of the issues facing our young people because of the prevalence of information flowing through the Internet. This easy access to information allows responses to be more prompt and more widespread. That is, with the advent and extensive use of ICTs, youth work, particularly as it relates to advocacy, has become easier and somewhat more effective.

In this course we will take a journey from discussing the historical treatment of young people in the world and up to the use of ICTs as a medium for advocacy for a better life for children and youth. In Unit 1 we will take a look at the beginnings of youth advocacy, examine the issues currently facing Caribbean youth and review the development of advocacy as a tool for youth development.

Session 1.1: The beginnings of youth advocacy
Session 1.2: Common issues facing our Caribbean youth today – a review
Session 1.3: The development of advocacy as a tool for positive youth development