Most of these students were having difficulty in school, and their participation in school and in their community ranged from minimal to none. Although the skills and talents they brought were phenomenal, these strengths were rarely tapped into. In a follow-up classroom discussion, the youth expressed a lack of connectedness with their own community. Young people, when they are asked, can easily identify the major barriers to their successes. And they can also devise and implement solutions for overcoming those hurdles.
Adults plan programs without involving youth in the process.
Adults do not share their power with young people. Young people do not view themselves as a group that can create change. Young people many have good ides, but are unsure how to implement them. Young people are not organized enough for real influence.