On the Right Path: Youth Development Amidst Colombia’s Sociocultural Transition

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2021.1023

Keywords:

youth program, youth development, Colombia, qualitative research

Abstract

Colombia is amidst a sociocultural transition due to recent political movements towards ending the long-standing internal armed conflict. Development and implementation of youth programs that are responsive to the current societal context can contribute to this transition by investing in younger generations. This study features findings from the exploration phase of a community-based participatory research study to adapt a youth program from the United States for implementation in Colombia. Through focus group interviews, participants representing 4 different microsystems surrounding youth shared perceptions of youth who will be successful in this transitional context. Perceptions coalesced to reveal a process of positive development for use as a framework for responsive and culturally sensitive program adaptations. The emergent process mirrors positive youth development principles and shares similarities with other positive youth development models. The discussion explores considerations for the sociocultural context when designing youth programs for use in Colombia.

Author Biographies

Holly E. Follmer-Reece, Center for Adolescent Resiliency, Texas Tech University

Center for Adolescent Resiliency

Paulina Velez-Gomez, Department of Psychology, Universidad CES

Department of Pscyhology

Nadia Semenova Moratto-Vásquez, Department of Psychology, Universidad CES

Department of Psychology

Sara L. Dodd, Center for Adolescent Resiliency, Texas Tech University

Center for Adolescent Resiliency

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Published

2021-07-14