Civic Youth Work ©

Public Achievement has developed and published a model of practice we call 'Democratic Civic Practice' ©.  When applied to work with young people, we call it 'Civic Youth Work' ©.  This model of work revolves around a process we call the action project cycle - where teams of young people supported by a volunteer 'coach' design, implement and make public a project or campaign that addresses issues that young people identify as important.

Public Achievement offers a range of training in this model, and we have published both a curriculum and a handbook for practitioners.  We will shortly publish a companion resource aimed at those working with young people in conflicted and post-conflict societies.

The main purpose of this model of youth work, is to increase the civic engagement of young people.  That is young people doing practical work on real issues of public importance that make a difference in their communities.

Citizenship

In Public Achievement we believe that young people are citizens now - not future citizens, or citizens in preparation.  They have rights (as outlined for example in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other instruments), and they also have responsibility for each other and for others in their communities, society and the wider world.