As teenagers have their unique developmental paths, when I worked with them in classes in high school, I tried to use some facilitative methods to create a social space for all of us, to inquire about both life issues and academic issues. 

 

According to 2 years of observations in my class and in mentoring Gap Year   youth, I found they showed an interest in learning what they have experienced in facilitation, alongside with subject and issues addressed. What’s more, some students actively took the initiative to learn how to use facilitation and apply it in organizing study circles, in the project work to nurture collegial interaction and further generate collective wisdom. 

 

Recently, 5 students in Grades 10 and 11 engaged intensively in inviting 3 other Steiner High School students to co-create an intercollegiate dialogue and a debate event. They tried to employ what they have learned, organizing meetings, making consensus-building on themes, brainstorming forms, and processes, and enrolling more pupils to participate.        

 

To witness the vitality and meaningful engagement of these young spirits, I am working on possible support scaffolding them to go further. For example, simple facilitation designs that can be shared and practiced; training for youth to deepen skill set; moving from training to community or systems impact... in summation, is using
facilitation with youth and bringing facilitation, helping youth see “facilitation is part of their lives.”

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About the Author

Known in PIMA as Yahui, she is PIMA’s “voice of Taiwan”, an adult educator, researcher, scholar and community activist, coach for community workers and educator for NGO organizational development. Her research interests include civic engagement, adult education, community empowerment, and social change and youth development. She teaches at Hai-Siann Waldorf High Schoo. Email:  yahui.fang@gmail.com

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