The RISE Program believes in the power of youth and in community members working together to make real sustainable change.  We know that when given an opportunity, youth have a great deal to contribute to their community, and that when youth speak, other youth listen.

What is Youth Engagement?

Youth engagement is a new philosophical and educational movement that harnesses the power of youth to affect community development.  It is a partnership between youth and adults that does not focus solely on the delivery of programs, but rather emphasizes connections and relationships with youth

More traditional models of intervention to address youth issues such as violence have focused on issues that adults perceived young people to need rather than youth identifying the prevalent issues and potential solutions. When adults decide what works best for youth, rather than having youth decide for themselves, there is a considerable risk for program failure. Youth truly are the experts about their own lives and experiences and youth delivered programs are the key to finding real solutions.

Current research also points to very positive outcomes for youth who are engaged in their school and community.  These outcomes include, lower rates of substance use and misuse, lower levels of depression, a reduction in drop-out rates at school, lower rates of criminal arrest and higher academic performance, healthier peer and adult interactions, improved decision-making abilities and less risky sexual behavior.

(Centre for Excellence in Youth Engagement, 2003, Catalano et al., 1999)

Whole School Approaches

to Violence Prevention

In order to create and sustain an effective violence prevention program in schools, researchers have pointed to the critical nature of having the all members of the school community involved in such programs. 

The whole school community needs to be involved in developing both an understanding of bullying and issues of violence as well as the interventions to address these problems. Short and long-term responsibilities should be clearly defined so that problems can be prevented and issues can be effectively and consistently addressed. A comprehensive approach needs to provide targets of bullying with protection and a safe place at school.  As well, this approach must provide those students who persistently engage in bullying with support to change their behavior patterns before they become more serious ones (Craig & Pepler, 1999).  Engaging by-standers and shifting by-stander culture is also essential in shifting the culture of a school or community to one where violence is not accepted and peace and safety are the norm.