Author : Pasiona, Sonny P.

Summary : The study investigated youth-adult engagement in community-based agriculture projects and its link to positive youth development outcomes among the 4-H youth of Bicol, Philippines. Guided by the theoretical perspectives of the Typology of youth Participation and Empowerment Model (TYPE) and the Positive Youth Development (PYD), the research employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. There were 12 key informant interviews and four focus group discussions conducted for the initial qualitative phase of the study. Subsequently, a mixed-mode survey (online and paper-based) was done with 154 in-school and out-of-school 4-H youth from 10 clubs in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Norte. Results showed a high level of youth-adult engagement (YAE) that is constituted by high composite scores for the three dimensions of YAE: youth involvement, adult involvement, and youth-adult interaction. Findings reflect a pluralistic type of participation where there is shared control among the 4-H youth and adults over decision-making in the planning and implementation of agri-based projects. Furthermore, the study also showed high levels of perceived PYD outcomes (competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, contribution) which describe their overall 4-H experience. Performing an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis confirmed that Y AE is a significant predictor of PYD outcomes. Therefore, enhancing the three dimensions of YAE yields improved PYD outcomes among the 4-H youth. An enabling environment which includes adult support was found to be a key enabler for participation among the 4-H youth. The study therefore suggests a mindset among policymakers and development managers that youth engagement in agriculture goes beyond the youth themselves. Adults, especially in the communities, play a meaningful and enabling role for both the positive development of the youth and their communities. Hence, youth programming in agriculture and rural youth investments need to consider both the role of the youth and adults, especially those within the community. 4-H clubs provide the critical foundations for rural youth empowerment as it offers young people to enhance their socio-psychological skills, social capital, and sense of appreciation of and contribution to agriculture, among others.