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Research Articles

Vol. 28 No. 4

Positive Youth Development Service-Learning Opportunity for University Students

  • Daniel Thomas Page
  • Stephanie Hanrahan
  • Lisa Buckley
Submitted
July 19, 2022
Published
2024-12-16

Abstract

South African university students (n = 18; aged 21–28) participated in the LifeMatters train-the-trainer (TTT) workshop. Ten trained participants (n = 10; aged 21–23) then implemented the program as youth facilitators at three local schools. The study aimed to describe changes in participants resulting from the TTT and implementation experience. Mixed-methods data were collected via self-report survey instruments (ascertaining self-efficacy, self-esteem, and personal growth), training program experiential review forms, and postimplementation focus groups. Survey data were collected pre-TTT, post-TTT, postimplementation, and follow-up (one month after TTT for nonimplementers). Participants reported improvement in self-efficacy, self-esteem, and personal growth following completion of the TTT workshop and further improvements after the implementation experience. The LifeMatters TTT workshop and implementation experience promoted participants’ positive youth development (PYD) factors, personal and professional development, and acquisition of mental skills. Implications of providing students with PYD training and supervised service-learning opportunities are discussed.