4-H MEMBERS MORE INVOLVEDIN YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS
Sources: Anna Lucas and Roger Rennekamp
As today=s young people take active roles in communities, states and the nation, many are using skills they learned through 4-H membership.
Kentucky youth have skills, abilities and interests to make a significant contribution locally and to the nation as a whole. Increasingly, they are becoming responsible citizens through active involvement in service and leadership events that will make a difference.
Youth serve, or have served, on the National 4-H Council, National Strategic Directions Team, National 4-H Technology Team, and National 4-H Trust. Members also work with younger children by serving as 4-H volunteer leaders in their communities.
Recognizing the value of young people=s talents and skills, service organizations and governmental bodies are inviting youth to serve on state and local boards and councils. These endeavors often generate youth-adult partnerships.
In one such partnership, 4-Hers joined other youth and adults to discuss youth issues and ways communities could work together to bring about satisfactory solutions. These Acounty conversations@ focused on action steps that will have a positive impact on youth development in each community.
In addition, 4-H members also are donating their time and talents to community service and leadership through the APower of YOUth Pledge@ campaign. They pledge to make the community, country or world a better place in such areas as helping an older or younger person, protecting/improving the environment, building respect and tolerance for others, and improving the community.
The Acounty conversations@ and APower of YOUth Pledge@ campaign are among the activities marking the 4-H/Youth Development centennial.
Through 4-H educational activities and events, our youth have developed self confidence and leadership, citizenship and communications skills. These youth have gone one step further; they’ve become actively involved in their communities, state and nation.
Let=s remember to recognize and give credit to these young people. Our world is a better place because they’ve taken the initiative to become involved in services to our county, state and nation.
For more information, on 4-H/Youth Development and creating youth-adult partnerships, contact me at the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service office.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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