Facilitating innovative youth encounters for well-being and healing
Solomons., William Samuel; Solomons, William Samuel
This
research
is
based
on
a
youth
intervention
organisation
founded
by
the
researcher
in
1997.
The
organisation
(Agape
Copeland
Train)
is
located
in
the
Northern
Cape.
Youths’
contexts
in
the
Northern
Cape
are
fraught
with
psychological,
social
and
relational
problems,
including
violence,
alcoholism,
teenage
pregnancies,
depression,
crime,
poverty,
and
curtailed
future
prospects.
An
exploratory
enquiry,
informed
by
ecological
and
positive
psychology,
is
undertaken.
In
particular,
this
research
focuses
on
the
(often
neglected)
perspectives
of
facilitators
who
work
with
youth.
Exploration
of
how
facilitators’
well-‐being
is
impacted
on
whilst
serving
youth
in
this
challenging
context
is
undertaken.
Interviews
with
facilitators
yielded
themes
of
positive
transformation,
including
shifts
in
mindsets
and
positive
affect.
In
addition,
aspects
of
the
organisation’s
development,
as
relevant
to
the
context
of
the
research,
are
described
and
a
model
of
youth
facilitation
This research is based on a youth intervention organisation founded by the researcher in
1997. The organisation (Agape Copeland Train) is located in the Northern Cape. Youths’ contexts in
the Northern Cape are fraught with psychological, social and relational problems, including
violence, alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, depression, crime, poverty, and curtailed future
prospects. An exploratory enquiry, informed by ecological and positive psychology, is undertaken.
In particular, this research focuses on the (often neglected) perspectives of facilitators who work
with youth. Exploration of how facilitators’ well-‐being is impacted on whilst serving youth in
this challenging context is undertaken. Interviews with facilitators yielded themes of positive
transformation, including shifts in mindsets and positive affect. In addition, aspects of the
organisation’s development, as relevant to the context of the research, are described and a model
of youth facilitation process, as developed by facilitators within the organisation, is presented.
The researcher’s own experiences in the organisation (as director and as a facilitator) are
reflected upon. Observations, incidents, and experiences are used as additional data sources.
Facilitating vulnerable youth from an ecological systems
perspective is an intricate, reflexive, complex and challenging process.
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