The Role of Informal Clubs in Youth Development: A South African Case Study

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Periodical article

Title:	The Role of Informal Clubs in Youth Development: A South African Case Study
Authors:	Møller, Valerie Mthembu, Theresa Richards, Robin
Year:	1994
Periodical:	Journal of Social Development in Africa (ISSN 1012-1080)
Volume:	9
Issue:	2
Pages:	5-29
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	South Africa Southern Africa
Subjects:	youth organizations Development and Technology sociology youth social development Case studies
Abstract:	Informal youth clubs operating in South Africa during the emergency period in the 1980s provided positive direction for youth who had suffered from disruptions in their education and exclusion from the job market. Such clubs are thought to promote 'fine' youth and they play an important bridging role in assisting young people to adapt to adult life. The authors address the question of how youth are attracted to these youth clubs and programmes. In particular, they investigate why some youth join youth clubs and others do not, the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with youth club membership, and how membership is adopted and sustained. They report on a study of the motivations and aspirations of youth club members in the Durban Functional Region and analyse the dynamics operating in 42 informal youth clubs in the region which are loosely affiliated to a youth development programme, the Youth Centre Project, which provides peer education for democracy and leadership training. Bibliogr., notes, sum.