“I HOPE I CAN BE MYSELF”: Voices of young people in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Hillebrand, Riikka (2020)
Hillebrand, Riikka
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112323746
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112323746
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this master’s thesis was to explore the young people’s experiences of youth diaconia in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia and to listen to young people’s ideas and visions on how youth diaconia could be developed. The purpose was to understand how the young people have perceived and experienced youth diaconia, what they may have learned or gained and what kind of impact youth diaconia have had on their lives. Moreover, the purpose was to understand how youth diaconia could be developed from the perspective of marginalized young people and to understand what the relevant issues or topics are for youth. In this way participation of young people can be increased in developing youth diaconia.
The last 30 years have included major shifts and transition times as well as one crisis following another in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict and migration are topics that have been and continue to be topical globally as well as in Central and Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.
This master’s thesis was conducted together with International Academy for Diaconia and Social Action, Central and Eastern Europe (interdiac). The theoretical framework introduces three earlier research approaches relevant in youth diaconia: positive youth development, social inclusion and empowerment. This thesis was based on qualitative research methodology and the research was carried out through a content analysis. The material for the content analysis was gathered through individual and focus group interviews.
The performed content analysis presents three top categories linking together the experiences of the young people in the different countries: acceptance, social inclusion and being empowered. In addition, the content analysis suggests three top categories that capture the improvement and development ideas of the young people: supporting orphans and street-connected young people, building understanding between young people and adults and the churches and supporting young people in social inclusion.
The last 30 years have included major shifts and transition times as well as one crisis following another in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict and migration are topics that have been and continue to be topical globally as well as in Central and Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.
This master’s thesis was conducted together with International Academy for Diaconia and Social Action, Central and Eastern Europe (interdiac). The theoretical framework introduces three earlier research approaches relevant in youth diaconia: positive youth development, social inclusion and empowerment. This thesis was based on qualitative research methodology and the research was carried out through a content analysis. The material for the content analysis was gathered through individual and focus group interviews.
The performed content analysis presents three top categories linking together the experiences of the young people in the different countries: acceptance, social inclusion and being empowered. In addition, the content analysis suggests three top categories that capture the improvement and development ideas of the young people: supporting orphans and street-connected young people, building understanding between young people and adults and the churches and supporting young people in social inclusion.