Strengthening Adolescent Resilience: Insights from Socio-Ecological Model-based Programs in Diverse Contexts

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Adolescence is a critical phase marked by substantial physical, emotional, and psychological growth. The experiences during this period significantly influence an individual's health and well-being throughout adulthood. The presence of protective factors plays a crucial role in promoting adolescent well-being and resilience. The socio-ecological model (SEM) offers a framework to understand these protective factors and their interconnected relationships at different levels - individual, family, community, and society (Lund et al, 2018). This presentation discusses how Catholic Relief Services (CRS), World Vision International (WVI), and New Horizons Foundation (NHF) have implemented adolescent/youth-focused programming based on the SEM to strengthen resilience and foster community engagement across diverse contexts.
The SEM highlights various protective factors, including positive coping skills, strong self-esteem, and parental support at the individual and family levels, respectively. Additionally, perceived community acceptance and support, along with active participation and engagement in peer support activities, contribute significantly to adolescent well-being and resilience. Participation and engagement in community activities can also give adolescents an opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas which can help them realize their own agency through their contributions to community service efforts in their communities. At the society and systems level, protective factors could include supportive policies and legal frameworks developed with an adolescent/youth lens, networks to support adolescent/youth issues as well as children and adolescent specific policies. Based on this model, the child or adolescent is at the center nested within concentric circles of support, including family, peers, community, and society (UNICEF, 2020).
Adolescence is a vulnerable period due to the transition from childhood to adulthood and the challenges of new responsibilities and changing relationships. Risk factors, such as poverty, food insecurity, neglect, substance abuse, and exposure to violence (including gender-based violence), can adversely affect psychosocial well-being and resilience. Furthermore, external factors like conflicts, political instability, climate change, and natural disasters can impact societal and system-level protective factors, leading to negative outcomes for adolescents. Adolescence also presents a unique opportunity for adults to engage with children in their second decade of life as they undergo all these many changes. Adolescents often bring unique perspectives to issues of well-being and community decision-making, challenging commonly held views by adults, potentially improving plans and initiatives to address issues (Forbes et al., 2023). For these reasons, it is imperative for adolescents to be meaningfully engaged in all levels of the socio-ecological environment; they are not only passive recipients of development initiatives, but active participants and agents of change at all levels of the ecology.
CRS, WVI, and NHF have implemented programs designed around SEM to address the challenges faced by adolescents in various contexts. CRS's structured sessions tailored to gender- and age-specific needs, coupled with community service initiatives, empower adolescents and their families. Similarly, WVI's Positive Youth Development life skills approach, IMPACT+, strengthens well-being and self-efficacy among adolescents while involving them in service-learning projects for community development. New Horizons Foundation's service-learning network fosters youth clubs in Central and Eastern Europe, providing a platform for learning and networking, as well as developing a common voice for youth across the region.
The panel session will present findings and outcomes from diverse contexts: Gaza, Central and Eastern Europe, Sri Lanka, and Zambia. Each presentation will align with the socio-ecological model, focusing on individual, familial, community, and society levels. In Gaza, CRS’ program is designed around a series of structured sessions tailored to the expressed, gender- and age-specific needs of male and female adolescents and their caregivers. Adolescents also participate in structured community initiatives, which are community service projects, that allow them to use their new communication and leadership skills to design and implement a project in their communities. These two presentations address interventions in the individual, family, and community levels of the ecology. WVI similarly implements programming for adolescents both within formal education settings and outside of school settings. Using a Positive Youth Development life skills approach called IMPACT+, WVI in Zambia and Sri Lanka is scaling the approach, strengthening adolescent well-being and self-efficacy, while also engaging adolescents in service-learning projects for the betterment of their communities. This presentation addresses the individual as well as the community level of the ecology. NHF manages a service-learning network which provides youth clubs through Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) a space and opportunities to connect. The network offers opportunities to share lessons learned and connect with other youth leaders. The network aims to be an autonomous system that contributes to strengthening youth leaders and their communities. This presentation addresses mainly community and societal levels of the ecology.
The panel session's shared learnings and outcomes from diverse contexts offer valuable insights for adolescent/youth-focused programming worldwide, including formal and non-formal education programs, and adapting to both emergency and development contexts. The focus on fostering resilience and well-being among adolescents and their communities represents a continuous commitment to innovate and provide high-quality programming that addresses the unique needs of adolescents globally.

Sub Unit

• Youth Development and Education SIG

Chair

• Margaret Phiri Mushingo, World Vision Zambia

Individual Presentations

• Empowering adolescents and communities through service-learning in Zambia and Sri Lanka - Margaret Phiri Mushingo, World Vision Zambia