Feasibility of a Youth Development Programme: A South African Study

Abstract

Designing comprehensive youth development programmes that combat the engagement of Health Risk Behaviour has become a crucial component in the battle against the challenges that the youth are confronted with in an ever changing environment. A Delphi technique was used to explore the feasibility of a designed comprehensive youth development programme aimed at combatting Health Risk Behaviour amongst youth in selected high schools in the Paarl area, Western Cape. A purposive sample of 24 experts was invited to participate. The Delphi process was administered online using Google docs. Specific questions were arranged in order for the panel of experts to give input as to: (i) the scope of the programme, (ii) the content of the programme, (iii) the approaches of the programme, (iv) the implementation of the programme, (v) the resources of the programme and (vi) the cost of the programme. The results and observations included: 1) scaffolding the programme into specific age- and gender-based activities; 2) the understanding that the programme be sensitive to the diverse needs and background of its participants; 3)the need for training of facilitators in order to be equipped to deal with the challenges that will emerge throughout the programme.