Originally Posted: November 25, 2011
Today is ‘Black Friday’ in the US. The day after Thanksgiving when everyone lines up for hours to buy their Christmas gifts and take advantage of discounts and sales. And while there is nothing wrong with any of these things, it does highlight the consumer society that most youth in more economically developed countries are growing up in.
How about in your youth programs? Are you helping your youth to identify changes they can make, that will set them apart from their peers, that will help them develop a less consumer-focused approach to their lives?
Here are few little ways you can help your youth consume less during your youth programs.
- Offer recycling bins for cans, bottles and paper
- Give the youth a budget to plan an activity and teach them how to research getting the best prices and how to scale back their plans based on their budget
- Have technology-limited sessions by creating activities and session plans that don’t need expensive devices to make them happen
- Plan activities and sessions that focus on creating empathy in your youth by looking at the conditions of youth living in less-economically developed countries
Question: What other ideas do you have? Let us know your ideas in the comments below.
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