Let's Talk about Constitutions

Let’s talk about constitutions! is designed to present difficult constitutional concepts to non-specialist and young audiences in an entertaining and informative way. It has been developed to promote young people’s understanding of constitutional issues and thereby empower and inspire youth to play a full and meaningful part in their own constitution-building process. With dynamic images, relatable characters and simple language, Let’s talk about constitutions! illustrates key concepts to answer the questions: what is a constitution and why is it important? The cartoon is an educational tool that can be enjoyed by youth and adults alike, whether integrated into youth centre curricula or non-governmental organizations civic education campaigns. The booklet is designed primarily for Myanmar and the characters and scripts are tailored to this context. The information shared in the cartoon, however, is relevant for people interested in learning and teaching about constitutions all around the world.

Caring for fugitive imaginations

In this essay, Robin Vanbesien reflects on his artistic approach of ‘co-elaboration’ with regard to the social imagination of the former youth centre Rzoezie (1978-2006) in Mechelen. As he explains, he aims to preserve the ‘Rzoezie imagination’ in his film the wasp and the weather (2019, 19’) as a distinctly sensuous matter, so that its ‘poetics of care’ can remain insurgent and fugitive.

Youth center as an innovative institute of self-realization of youth in ukraine

The article analyzes the practice of the distribution of youth centres in Ukraine and their significance for modern youth. Youth centres are described as institutions that promote the development of young people, youth entrepreneurship, civic education, promote a healthy lifestyle, volunteering. The article aims to study the potential of the youth centre as an innovative institution for youth self-realization. The research methods were the analysis of normative documents, the study of the experience of the functioning of youth centres, the survey of target groups. It is determined that the modern state youth policy is focused on the introduction of innovative approaches to work with youth. It is stated that one of the priority tasks of the new institute – the youth centre – is to promote the self-realization of young people. This is ensured by the use of various forms and methods of work: non-formal education (lectures, training, workshops, working visits), interest groups, support and implementation of thematic youth projects, thematic camps, volunteering, cultural and leisure activities, talent fairs, etc. Verification of the effectiveness of youth self-realization in the conditions of the youth centre was carried out based on the Nizhyn city youth centre. The experience of interaction with different categories of young people to promote the development of soft skills, for its professional development, the formation of an active civil position, the satisfaction of interests have been highlighted. According to a survey of visitors to the youth centre, it is proved that the youth centre promotes self-realization of young people, offering a wide range of forms and methods of work, innovative practices and communications.

RELEVANCE OF THE SPEED-AGILITY REACTION IN THE PREPARATION OF RUGBY SEVENS PLAYERS

The success of female rugby sevens players is largely based on their high motor potential as well as the individual and collective tactical skills. Most training programmes specific to the game of rugby sevens emphasise the development of travel speed, unwillingly neglecting the progress of the reaction speed (in specific training) and the agility, which are found in the technical and tactical actions of the game. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficiency of both specific training programmes and female players. The research was conducted throughout a training macrocycle in the first months of the competitive year 2019. The research subjects were the female players in the junior team of the “Agronomia” Sports Club of Bucharest and some players from the National Olympic Youth Centre. The research methods used are: scientific documentation, observation, measurement, statistical and mathematical method, graphical method. The experimental approach to the issue was highlighted by processing and interpreting the results obtained after applying the proposed tests. Therefore, the priority in the training programmes specific to the game of rugby sevens is to maintain and improve the execution of movements from the perspective of speed as a motor skill performed with an optimal manifestation of agility, all these aspects being reflected in the efficiency of technical and tactical actions.

Experience of violence and self-rated health: Do youths disclose their experiences when visiting a Youth Centre in Sweden

Background: Being exposed to violence is a global health problem, increasing the risk of suffering from ill health. The main aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of emotional, physical and sexual violence victimisation and its association to self-rated health among youths. The second aim was to investigate whether the youths had disclosed to healthcare professionals at a Youth Centre or others about being exposed. Methods: The cross-sectional study includes data from a web survey of youths, aged 15–25 ( n=500), collected in Sweden. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were used for the analyses. Results: In all, emotional, physical or sexual violence during their lifetime was reported by 43.2% and 22.8% of youths during the last year. In total, 88% of the respondents assessed their self-rated health as good, very good or excellent. Those who had been exposed to emotional, physical or sexual violence during their lifetime reported statistically significant lower self-rated health (fair and poor) than those who were not victimised. When healthcare professionals at the Youth Centre asked youths about exposure during their lifetime, one-fifth disclosed having been exposed. Conclusions: Youths who reported any type of violence during their lifetime showed lower self-rated health compared to those who were not exposed. Youth Centres have an important role in identifying youths who are exposed to violence and/or self-report their health as low. Still, only a minority of youths who have been exposed to violence told health professionals at a Youth Centre about it when asked. It is necessary to further investigate how the issues can be best addressed.

A pilot study of a neuroscience-based, harm minimisation programme in schools and youth centres in Australia

ObjectivesThe primary aim is to evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed, neuroscience-based, alcohol and other drug (AOD) use prevention programme, ‘The Illicit Project’, in Australian older adolescents. The secondary aim is to investigate the impact of the programme on students’ drug literacy levels (a combination of knowledge, attitudes and skills).DesignA pilot study examining the feasibility of The Illicit Project in Australian schools was conducted.ParticipantsStudents aged 15–19 years from two secondary schools and a youth centre and 11 teachers and health professionals from various organisations in Sydney were recruited.InterventionThe intervention consisted of three 90 min workshops delivered by trained facilitators within a month.Primary and secondary measuresStudents completed a drug literacy questionnaire before and after intervention. All participants (students, teachers and health professionals) completed an evaluation questionnaire postprogramme delivery. A paired-sample t-test and descriptive analytics were performed.ResultsStudents (n=169) demonstrated a significant increase in drug literacy levels from preintervention to postintervention (t(169) = −13.22, p<0.0001). Of students evaluating the programme (n=252), over threequarters agreed that The Illicit Project was good or very good (76%), that the neuroscience content was interesting (76%) and relevant (81%), and that they plan to apply the concepts learnt to their own lives (80%). In addition, all teachers and health professionals (n=11) agreed that the programme was feasible and valid for schools and perceived the programme to be effective in reducing the harms and use of AOD.ConclusionsThere is evidence to suggest that The Illicit Project is credible and feasible in the school environment and there are preliminary data to suggest it may help to improve drug literacy levels in young people. A large-scale evaluation trial of the intervention will be conducted to determine the programme’s effectiveness in minimising the harms of AOD in older adolescents.

Constructions of young migrants’ situations in kinship care in a Swedish suburb by social workers in a non-governmental organisation mentoring programme

Young migrants defined as ‘unaccompanied’ tend to be constructed as a homogeneous group with specific vulnerabilities and strengths in social work practice. ‘Unaccompanied’ young migrants placed in kinship care in Sweden are constructed with further vulnerabilities. Such constructions of these young people and their situations may have consequences for how social support for them is designed. The aim of this study is to explore how the social workers employed at a non-governmental organisation mentoring programme construct young migrants’ situations in kinship care in a Swedish suburb, and if and how these constructions change during the course of the programme. Methods used are semi-structured interviews with the social workers at the youth centre where the mentoring work takes place and analysis of the non-governmental organisation’s policy documents. The results consist of three constructions of situations the young people are in: (1) loneliness and (a lack of) support in the kinship homes; (2) alienation in the local neighbourhood and the kinship home and (3) social, cultural and family contexts creating a sense of safety. The results show variation in how the mentors describe each situation with both vulnerabilities and strengths. This highlights a complexity in the constructions that contests the image of young migrants in kinship care as merely vulnerable. These results reveal consideration of individual differences and contexts, and are used to discuss how people’s struggles and resources can be dealt with in social work.

Is HIV Self-Testing a Potential Answer to the Low Uptake of HIV Testing Services Among Men in Rwanda? Perspectives of Men Attending Tertiary Institutions and Kimisagara Youth Centre in Kigali, Rwanda

BACKGROUND &amp; OBJECTIVE: Rwanda has generally experienced low uptake of HIV testing services among men. However, the reasons behind this have not been researched. The main aim of this study was to explore whether HIV self-testing (HIVST) would have the capacity to improve uptake of HIV testing services among men in Rwanda. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of 22 men attending tertiary institutions and the Kimisagara Youth Centre in Kigali, Rwanda. Data collection was conducted through open interviews. Data analysis was conducted through thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that most men had poor knowledge of HIVST, but the majority were willing to adopt it. Four main themes emerged during data analysis. Theme one indicated that men experienced a lack of sufficient information on HIVST. From theme two, it was uncovered that some men were indifferent to HIVST. From theme three, it emerged that most men perceived the cost as the main barrier to HIVST; however, if it was offered free of charge, they were willing to adopt it. Finally, theme four revealed that most men willing to adopt HIVST were concerned about the potential social harm and possible adverse events associated with HIVST.