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Showing posts from December, 2024

Guiding youth with their passion projects

By Nicole Kudrle Supporting youth in pursuing their passion projects is a highlight of my youth development career. Recently, I had the privilege of guiding a young person as they brought their vision to life: creating a calming corner for the county fair. This project was designed to provide a space where youth and adults could find a moment of peace amid the fair’s lively activity. I wanted to ensure the project was not only successful, but also a meaningful growth opportunity for the youth. Here are the steps that I took to guide and mentor the youth with their project:  Start with their vision - When this youth shared their desire to create a calming corner, I listened carefully, asking open-ended questions to help clarify their vision. "What would this space look like? Who would it serve? What materials might you need? How can we fund this opportunity?" Asking open-ended questions helps the youth set their goals and begin making their idea a reality. Encourage ownership...