When I first started working with young women at the youth club, I really wanted to make a difference. I saw so much need, and I felt I had so much to give. I saw the gaps in support at home, and tried to fill that space. I tried to be mother, sister, friend… But […]
Author Archives: Project GROW
Identifying problems before they cannot be addressed helps us build sustainable African youth organisations, girls’ clubs and youth work. Some strategies that may help prevent burnout,and vicarious and secondary trauma include: Actively managing and reducing a youth worker’s responsibilities. Talking to team members or a supervisor on a regular basis could be a mentoring or […]
African youth workers don’t need to be able to distinguish between compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and secondary trauma – our job isn’t to diagnose but to support and empower. We just need to be aware of the risks and identify the warning signs in ourselves, our teammates or the youth workers we supervise. Common signs […]
Trauma fractures comprehension as a pebble shatters a windshield. The wound at the site of impact spreads across the field of vision, obscuring reality and challenging belief. Jane Leavy African youth workers may experience Secondary Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Trauma or Compassion Fatigue. These are clinical terms for the stresses and trauma you may face as […]
The brain is wider than the sky. Emily Dickinson In the countries we come from – Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria – many of us will have experienced traumas at home, at school, in our neighbourhoods or at work – many of these are also outlined in our safeguarding resource. We cannot overestimate the number […]
I don’t have the power to take away suffering. I have the power to bring joy. Allie Olson Youth work in Africa is challenging, and women like us who work to support young women may find themselves experiencing secondary trauma and other stresses. When we listen to young women or learn about the challenges they […]
If we mention the word ‘leader’ in Africa, we most likely picture a man. We picture a ‘boss’. We think of someone authoritative, who others defer to, and that we’re possibly a little scared of. Politicians and Businessmen. This isn’t just an African stereotype. Across the world, we will probably find young women with the […]
If we lead leadership programmes for young African Women, we have to ask ourselves, as youth workers, whether we truly believe that these women can become leaders. Giving African young women the chance to see themselves as leaders Have you ever thought about how often leadership programmes are delivered in ways that prevent young women […]
Volunteering can be an excellent opportunity to practice leadership skills, whether this is taking on a role within your organisation, or externally. However, young women in your context may not easily make the connection between service to others and leadership, and you may need to guide them in understanding this. Use examples to help them […]
Allowing young women to make mistakes is smarter than spoon-feeding them. Experience of making mistakes, talking about it openly with a mentor or project coordinator and understanding that mistakes aren’t the end of the world is truly valuable for young women. We know that many women are scared about trying new things due to a […]