The importance of leisure time for young people,
particularly as it relates to personal and community development,
is examined in this chapter. It is imperative that youth be given a
wide range of opportunities for meaningful participation within the
community, provided or facilitated by a multitude of organizations,
institutions and programmes in all sectors. The various sections
in the chapter focus on how young people spend their free time, the
developmental opportunities presented within diverse contexts, and
the virtuous cycle of mutual benefit created through reciprocal
youth-community support (illustrated in several detailed case
studies). The conclusion emphasizes the importance of saturation
(adequacy of opportunities is more important than variety), a solid
infrastructure, a strong public and political commitment, and the
recognition that leisure time and opportunities constitute a right to
be protected rather than a privilege to be earned or lost.
Certain major themes—basic health, risk behaviour reduction, education, employ- ment and political participation—constitute the pillars of youth policy. Indeed, they are the foundations of human resource development in general, reflecting a continu- um of goals from protection to prevention to civic and economic participation. They are the domains of responsibility of the main public systems charged with providing services and opportunities for youth. They represent the core indicators against which Governments and advocates track progress. They do not, however, represent the total- ity of young people’s lives; herein lies the challenge.
In every culture, there are hours in the day when young people are not formally required to be in school or engaged in household or paid work. They choose to be involved in various activities, and there are public and private programmes, organiza- tions and individuals who support their participation. These hours, these activities and often even these programmes are considered discretionary. They are viewed as option- al—nice but not necessary, or even particularly important. These are the hours, the activities and the programmes whose absence or disappearance would not be noticed by policy makers but would be very much felt by young people. Public recognition of their importance is low, a fact reflected in the scarcity of relevant data.
Equally important, it is these hours, activities and programmes that policy makers, programme planners and frequently the public have few qualms about reduc- ing. When crime rates go up, the quality and quantity of young people’s discretionary hours are often diminished by strict curfews. When test scores drop or family incomes dip, opportunities to participate in voluntary activities are often restricted, as the hours required for work or study are increased. When
public funds are low, sports, recreation and cultural programmes and institutions are often among the first casualties.
Sorce Worlf Health Report
Certain major themes—basic health, risk behaviour reduction, education, employ- ment and political participation—constitute the pillars of youth policy. Indeed, they are the foundations of human resource development in general, reflecting a continu- um of goals from protection to prevention to civic and economic participation. They are the domains of responsibility of the main public systems charged with providing services and opportunities for youth. They represent the core indicators against which Governments and advocates track progress. They do not, however, represent the total- ity of young people’s lives; herein lies the challenge.
In every culture, there are hours in the day when young people are not formally required to be in school or engaged in household or paid work. They choose to be involved in various activities, and there are public and private programmes, organiza- tions and individuals who support their participation. These hours, these activities and often even these programmes are considered discretionary. They are viewed as option- al—nice but not necessary, or even particularly important. These are the hours, the activities and the programmes whose absence or disappearance would not be noticed by policy makers but would be very much felt by young people. Public recognition of their importance is low, a fact reflected in the scarcity of relevant data.
Equally important, it is these hours, activities and programmes that policy makers, programme planners and frequently the public have few qualms about reduc- ing. When crime rates go up, the quality and quantity of young people’s discretionary hours are often diminished by strict curfews. When test scores drop or family incomes dip, opportunities to participate in voluntary activities are often restricted, as the hours required for work or study are increased. When
public funds are low, sports, recreation and cultural programmes and institutions are often among the first casualties.
Sorce Worlf Health Report
