Including Youth in an Aging Society

Laura Ryser, Don Manson and Greg Halseth

Overview

• Rural and Small Town Restructuring• Demographic Changes• Methodology• Results

– Human capital– Social cohesion and social capital

• Discussion

Rural Restructuring: Post 1980

• Industrial consolidation• Labor shedding technology• Fewer jobs for youth

– Less seniority / experience– First to be laid off– Low levels of education– Prolonged unemployment

• Services reduced, regionalized, or closed

Youth and Community Renewal

• Youth inclusion can:– Lead to life-long participation– Sense of ownership in CED initiatives– Greater sense of belonging

• Youth assets support renewal– Aging population– Fewer professionals / volunteers

Human Capital

• Knowledge• Skills• Training • Work experience• Life experience• Volunteering

Social Cohesion and Social Capital

• Social cohesion– Collective response to stress– Relationships and social interaction

• Social capital– Networks and trust– Links to expertise, resources, and support

• Impacts ability of youth to respond to change

Human Capital Gaps I

Education• Youth not completing high school

– Lack of homework clubs, tutoring, and literacy programs

• Lack of high school courses– Need investments in technology

Every other year they do Physics 12 because they just don’t have enough kids to do it. (ID#2 Mackenzie)

To have a successful kid, you need to have a well educated kid. There are gaps where courses are not available because there aren’t enough students, but even with the opportunities for improved technology, the services could be available. They are available in other communities, but I have not seen them here in Burns Lake. (ID#75 Burns Lake)

Human Capital Gaps I

Education• Youth not completing high school

– Lack of homework clubs, tutoring, and literacy programs

• Lack of high school courses– Need investments in technology

• Lack of cultural / linguistic skills– Need ESL programs / cultural programs

Human Capital Gaps II

Work Experience• Lack of employment opportunities• Lack of work experience programs• Need to synthesize employment programs

with employer practices• Need broader range of work experiences

Human Capital Gaps III

Personal Development

The school gets you prepared for some things. It doesn’t get you prepared for the real world. There are programs that are supposed to help teach employment skills and things, but they’re really theory based and not reality based. Kids need to know how to go out and get auto insurance, how to comparison shop, how to get a bank account, how to go grocery shopping. They need real life skills (ID#31 Quesnel).

Human Capital Gaps IV

Volunteer Experience• Youth are underutilized

– i.e. delivering senior programs• No community engagement strategy• Need to adopt volunteer recognition / reward

programs

Social Cohesion / Social Capital Gaps I

Developing Social Skills• Difficulty interacting with peers• Short-term funding for social skills /

relationship programs• Social etiquette will help youth to build

relationships / networks– To participate in community building,

governance structures

Social Cohesion / Social Capital Gaps II

Opportunities for Social Interaction• Lack of social / recreational programs

– After school / summer programs– Affordable / free activities

• Need broader range of programs to reflect diversity of youth interests

• Need networking opportunities for vulnerable youth groups

Social Cohesion / Social Capital Gaps III

Social Infrastructure• Lack spaces where youth can interact

– Youth centre / recreation facilities– Inconsistent hours of operation– Lack of human / financial resources– Leasing arrangements– Repairs needed

• Lack of transportation

Effective public transit is needed because kids hitchhike everywhere around here. To swimming pools and summer camps. (ID#197 Hazelton)

Note: Hazelton lies along BC’s “Highway of Tears” for missing children.

Discussion I

• Neoliberal policies have undermined ability to nurture youth assets

• Youth assets are critical to support community renewal

• Next generation of community builders

Discussion II

• Need to support student learning• Need investments in technology• Need a comprehensive approach to develop

human capital– Investments in life skills to support transition

into adulthood– Experiential learning opportunities for work– Invest in many venues for learning (i.e.

volunteering, recreation, community engagement strategy)

Discussion III

• Need consistent, frequent, and affordable venues for interaction

• Invest in a diverse range of youth infrastructure

• Provides a foundation for life-long participation

Discussion IV

• Successful youth requires successful programs

• Policy decisions to withdrawal limited resources need to be reconsidered– Need long-term stable resources to acquire

adequate human resources• Pay attention to renewing capacity of

voluntary sector– Incentive programs, training, financial

resources, and in-kind support

Community Development Institute

3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada

V2N 4Z9http://www.unbc.ca/cdi

Dr. Greg Halseth, Acting Director Phone: (250) 960 - 5826Fax: (250) 960 - 6533Email: halseth@unbc.ca