ERIC Number: EJ1171249
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1746-1979
EISSN: N/A
Children as Agents of Social and Community Change: Enhancing Youth Empowerment through Participation in a School-Based Social Activism Project
Torres-Harding, Susan; Baber, Ashley; Hilvers, Julie; Hobbs, Nakisha; Maly, Michael
Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, v13 n1 p3-18 Mar 2018
School-based social activism projects have much potential to foster civic engagement, self-efficacy, and positive youth development. Social activism projects may also be a means by which children, a group that is disempowered due to their age and dependence on adults, might seek to positively impact social and community problems. The current study evaluated elementary school age children's (K-7th grade) participation in grassroots campaigns, which are year-long school-based activism projects that are a component of their school's comprehensive social justice curriculum. Results found that even young children could successfully and meaningfully participate in these school-based activism projects. Additionally, students' participation in these projects was characterized by a high level of enthusiasm and also facilitated a sense of community and empowerment in these children.
Descriptors: Social Change, Community Change, Change Agents, Children, Youth Opportunities, Empowerment, Student Projects, Activism, Elementary School Students, Social Justice, Student Participation, Qualitative Research, Student Attitudes, Focus Groups, Community Attitudes, Sense of Community, Consciousness Raising
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois (Chicago)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A