youth civic engagement: a developmental...
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YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA:
A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
RACHANA BHANGAOKAR, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
DULARI MEHTA
Project Fellow
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
UGC-Center of Advance Study (CAS) in Human Development
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
INDIA URBAN CONFERENCE : EVIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE (IUC 2011)
MYSORE, NOVEMBER 17-20, 2011
DEEP DIVE SESSION
THEME: STATE OF CITIZENSHIP IN URBAN INDIA
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
An interdisciplinary, applied field of study in the social sciences
Integrates perspectives from psychology, anthropology, sociology and allied fields
Studies developmental changes in the individual in his / her socio-cultural context, with special emphasis on gender and development.
Concerned with optimizing human potential with contextually informed and culturally appropriate interventions
RESEARCH ON YOUTH
Understanding adolescence / emerging adulthood / youth
life stages, crucial for identity development
Focus on positive development and resilience
Inputs in childhood, adolescence and emerging adulthood
(youth) important for the development of citizen identity
Youth development and civic engagement / voluntarism a
new vista for research in India; Lack of formal service
learning programs in schools and universities
Positive Youth Development: A
Theoretical Framework
Proposed by Lerner, Damon, and others- USA
Aligns with the positive psychology movement
Absence of problems does not ensure positive development
Enhancing positive opportunities and outcomes in immediate environments is essential
Comprises 5 Cs- Confidence, Competence, Character, Caring/Compassion and Connection and the 6th C of Contribution
Civic engagement as a catalyst for positive development
It enhances the moral centrality of social issues in the lives of youth, necessary to foster the development of civic identity
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT IN INDIA
India is among the world’s youngest nations with more than
40% of its population in the age range of 13-35 years
Reaping India’s ‘demographic dividend’
Indian youth: A complex, heterogeneous group
Youth as social capital; implications on nation building
Positive youth development and unequal opportunities for
the same (w.r.t gender, social class, place of residence)
Voluntarism and youth civic engagement: An avenue for
enhanced individual development and positive social
change
Studies on Youth Civic Engagement
Youth civic engagement: Analytical profiles (2010)
Mentoring in the context of youth civic engagement
(on going)
School-going adolescents’ views on citizenship and
civic engagement (on going)
Understanding perspectives on voluntarism as a
value in the Indian context (proposed for 2012)
Research Objectives
Broad Objectives
• To understand youth civic engagement in the Indian context
• To understand the personal and environmental factors that enable
youth civic engagement
Specific Objectives
• To explain forms and processes of civic engagement among
Indian youth
• To know the developmental outcomes of civic engagement for self
development
• To explore the moral underpinning of civic engagement, if any.
• To understand the impact of youth civic engagement on their
families, peers and communities.
Method
Qualitative study
In-depth interviews / Case Profiles
Purposive sampling
Snowball Technique
Personal contact with participants
Informed consent
Participants were 19 civically engaged youth, both
men and women, from Vadodara, Ahmedabad and
Pune
Effect of Civic Engagement on Others
(N=19)
Sensitive/
caring
compassionate
(N=9, N=5)
Awareness/
Empowerment
(N=9, N=4)
Change of
perception
about
participants/
their work
(N=10, N=6)
Attitude
Change
(N=4, N=5)
Family Change in
behavior like
feeding
animals, water
plants, not
discriminating
Increased
awareness
about issues;
refer people in
trouble to them
take pride in
their work,
trust them;
are happy,
satisfied, at
peace
Stopped
celebrating
festivals that
harm animals,
Volunteer
Sensitive/
caring
compassiona
te
(N=9, N=4)
Awareness/
Empowerment
& Behavior
Change
(N=9, N=4)
Change of
perception
about
participant/
their work
(N=10, N=5)
Networks expand
(N=6, N=2)
Friends Stopped
hitting
animals;
turned
vegetarian
Would seek
information;
use it and
spread it to
others, join the
cause
Are proud to
be their
friends, respect
their work;
believe in them
Like minded
people meet,
start to work
together and
make a
difference
Effect of Civic Engagement on Others
(N=19)
Sensitive/ caring
compassionate
(N=10, N= 5)
Empowerment &
Behavior Change
(N=11, N=5)
Change of
perception about
participants/ their
work (N=7 ,N=4)
Community
togetherness
(N=1, N=1)
Community
of reference
Know their rights;
raise their voice; join
the cause; live with
dignity; regain
confidence
Considers them their
“ray of hope”
Comes to gather in
times of trouble; share
a common platform to
represent their views/
problems, become
united Community
at large
Film festivals, drama,
PILs
Attitude change;
seek help,
suggestion, advice
whenever necessary
i.e. the larger
community is aware
of their work and
call for them
whenever necessary
Appreciate their
work, motivate them;
show a desire to
contribute in any
way possible;
neighborhoods
recognize them
Comes together for a
common cause;
contribute in cash or
kind
Effect of Civic Engagement on Others
(N=19)
The Road Ahead
Late adolescence – a critical period for (civic) identity development: Where are our INPUTS?
Role of schools, colleges: Providing formal avenues and choices for being civically engaged
Gender and civic engagement: Unequal opportunities
Urban youth – level of awareness and ability to respond to urban challenges
Existing infrastructure and diverse opportunities for civic engagement in urban areas –NGOs and other civic forums for volunteering
Interface with National Youth Policy,
2003, 2010
2010 policy draft acknowledges diversity and
vulnerable minorities within youth populations in India
Policy emphasizes civic engagement for social harmony
and nation building
Suggests creating forums and committees to address
issues
Fragmented view of central issues like health,
education, communal harmony
Much focus on national programs like NSS, NYKS –
Issues of program evaluation
Interface with National Youth Policy,
2003, 2010
Acknowledging already engaged youth
Understanding processes of engagement in micro-contexts
Liaisons between NGOs, Colleges / Universities, Corporate Sector and Government Functionaries; Replicating successful models of service learning
Integrating civic engagement in the school curriculum