Our aim was also to provide youth in care with an active voice in education. A recent study on student engagement in learning and school life shows that youth often do not have an active voice in their education, although they are key to understanding how these processes work.
In order to complete this participatory research project, the National Youth In Care Network (NYICN) entered into a partnership with the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD).The aim of this partnership was to utilize the expertise of CCSD staff in order to train and assist the youth staff of the NYICN in conducting qualitative participatory research. The youth staff then carried out the project with the continued assistance of the CCSD. In keeping with the mandate of the NYICN, youth staff played lead roles at all stages of the project.
The youth-to-youth approach used in this research project adds a layer of uniqueness and increases the validity of the responses for youth in care. The youth who participated in this project were among their peers, and were free to discuss their concerns openly with others who were in similar situations. They believed their voices would be heard and would eventually help improve the educational experiences of other youth in care like themselves.
©National Youth in Care Network
