Some Observations on the Themes of IYY 85 – Part 2

Participation is about young people:

- having the right to make decisions about their own lives and the things that are important to them

- having the skills to make these decisions and carry them through

- having a meaningful say in family, school, work, Government, and in other aspects of their lives. (IYY 85 Brochure)

As the young person moves up the age scale from 12 to 25 it is a reasonable expectation that his or her grip will be tightening on the full range of adult rights and responsibilities. The young person will also be letting go special rights and responsibilities pertaining to childhood. Hopefully this new independence and these new obligations will be welcomed and successful completion of the developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence will leave, more often than not, positive feelings toward self and life in general.