Young people are empowered when they see that the community values them. They see youth filling useful roles and serving the community. They feel safe at home, school and in their neighborhood. Having boundaries and expectations means that families have clear rules and consequences and monitor the young person's whereabouts. Schools provide clear rules and consequences.
Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.
Parents and teachers encourage the young person to do well. Young people make constructive use of their time when they are involved in creative activities like music, extracurricular activities of the community, school or church. A young person with a commitment to learning is motivated and actively engaged in learning. Often that means he or she spends at least one hour each school day doing homework, cares about school and reads for pleasure three or more hours per week. A young person with positive values places high value on helping other people, promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty, acts on convictions and stands up for his or her beliefs, tells the truth even when it is not easy, accepts and takes personal responsibility and believes it is important not to be sexually active or use alcohol or other drugs.