Q: I’m thinking of starting a new youth work program but I’m not sure when the best time to start it would be. What are your thoughts?
A: Any time you have the plan, resources and volunteers ready is a great time to start, but typically new youth programs are started in one of three times:
1. January (or New Year)
Upside: With the start of the new year approaching for many cultures around the world, January is a fresh start, and can be seen as a great time to start a new program. Youth will have just come off the busy time of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and will be ready to tackle a fresh project or program.
Downside: In many countries, January is a time that leads to preparation for end of year exams and course work. This means that you may find attendance drops off quickly in February and March as youth are kept home to study.
2. Summer
Upside: In many countries, youth finish their school year in the summer and have a break between 6 weeks and 3 months long. This can make a longer program that might run during the day perfect for starting in the summer months, particularly for youth in areas where there isn’t a lot of youth work provision during the long days of summer.
Downside: Remember that your attendance may be affected by vacations. Also consider what kind of program you are offering; if it’s very worksheet heavy and runs in a structured way like a school day, you may meet some resistance from youth who feel that they ‘aren’t in school’. (Learned that one the hard way!!)
3. September (or New School Year)
Upside: Starting a new program when school starts is favored by many youth workers, particularly if you plan to run it throughout the entire school year or on any kind of academic schedule.
Downside: Youth can be overwhelmed with an increased workload at the start of a new school year and may not begin to have good participation until October or November, which may then drop off over the holidays.
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All three options have benefits and possible challenges, particularly with regards to attendance. Another option to consider is to run short, sharp programs for 1-3 weeks at a time in school holidays or during winter and spring breaks.
Question: When do you like to start youth work programs? Let us know in the comments below.
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