Abstract
This study examines youth perceptions of safety within a faith-based Positive Youth Development (PYD) program operated by Compassion International (CI) in El Salvador. The research aims to understand how various forms of safety—physical, psychological, social-relational, and spiritual—are experienced by youth participants in a highly violent context. Using a sample of thriving youth exemplars, the study employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to explore the phenomenology of safety from the youth’s perspectives.
Key findings highlight that physical safety is a foundational element that enables other forms of safety to flourish within the program. Youth reported feeling safe within the CI program due to the secure environment created by staff, the physical boundaries of the program site, and the presence of caring adult relationships. Psychological safety was also prevalent, with youth expressing a sense of emotional security and freedom to develop personal skills and confidence. Social-relational safety was fostered through positive and sustained adult-youth relationships, which further supported the youth’s sense of security.
A unique aspect of this study is the exploration of spiritual safety, where youth described feeling protected by their relationship with God. This spiritual safety extended beyond the program site, providing a sense of ongoing protection in their daily lives. The study suggests that integrating spiritual development into PYD programs can enhance youth perceptions of safety and contribute to their overall thriving.
These findings have implications for the design and implementation of PYD programs in violent contexts, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to safety that includes physical, psychological, social-relational, and spiritual dimensions. Future research should further explore these components across diverse settings and populations to generalize and refine the understanding of safety in youth development programs.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/jyd/vol19/iss1/3/
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