Participation as a Means of Integrating Young People at Risk Into Society (From Cooperation Between the School System and the Police Force: The Second International ICRA-Workshop for International Practitioners, Esbjerg, Denmark, February 18-21, 1991, P 140-145 -- See NCJ-136767)

• NCJ Number: 136778
• Author(s): C Nissen
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Rigspolitichefen
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Denmark

Annotation

The Council of Europe's Youth Sector recently conducted a study that concluded that youth involvement and responsibility in voluntary organizations is a challenging yet most effective approach to youth development.

Abstract

Ideally, youth organizations choose their own leaders and undertake their own tasks. However, some organizations do not meet this ideal. Denmark has just introduced legislation providing public support to youth organizations and informal adult education. This concept is called "Folkeoplysning" and rests on an ideal of teaching democracy through participation. The approach contained in this law and recommended by the study does not aim to eliminate the formal school system or traditional social services. Instead, it proposes to make youth participation a guiding participation of youth policies. Thus, it recommends that local governments should build on and support the initiatives of young people themselves. Such a policy is particularly crucial when working with youth at risk.