Working with youth is a no-ordinary profession. In fact, it is a calling—a vocation because it entails more than just dealing with young people who are experiencing difficulties. It warrants love, care, and a commitment to go above and beyond what is called for. It is honestly not for everyone. But if there is one person who will make a great youth worker, that would have to be a mum.
What does working with youth mean?
A youth worker works directly with young people and children, helping ensure that they build life skills, make the right decisions for themselves, and develop healthy relationships. Working with youth often involves doing activities and projects such as sports and the performing arts.
Among the specific tasks of a youth worker are:
- Mentoring and counselling individual people
- Managing budgets
- Project planning
- Maintaining records
- Managing staff and even recruiting volunteers
- Facilitating workshops, activities, and community involvement
- Writing reports
- Teach self-confidence and awareness
Reasons why mums make great youth workers
As you can see above, the activities and tasks involved in working with youth are similar to the day-to-day responsibilities of a mum. Read on and find out why mums make great youth workers.
1. Mums are great role models
When working with youth, you just don’t command people around and tell the young people to do this or that. Remember that they are going through a difficulty and getting them to do something you want them to do will take more than just telling them. These young people will only do things if they see that their mentors are doing it too. And mums make great role models. They can find a way to show you how to do things without making you feel like you are being forced or pushed to your limit.
2. Mums can speak clearly
Mums have this special talent of being able to speak clearly and comprehensively.Remember your days as a schoolboy or schoolgirl? Whenever there was a difficult homework or project, our mums always knew how to make us understand. There is something special in the way mums speak and explain matters and concepts. This can come in handy when mums act as youth workers.
3. Mums are good time managers
Working with youth follows a schedule and warrants that all schedules and activities are followed. Mums, being the good time managers that they are, can effectively manage schedules and ensure that everything has been done within the allotted time. Imagine the needs of an infant and a toddler. Regardless of whatever else a mum needs to do, the child gets everything they need at the exact time they need them.
4. Mums can work under pressure
Being a mum means thriving under pressure. At home, mums have to multitask and are faced with a lot of pressure in maintaining the household. So, the pressures associated with working with youth are no longer new to mums. While some people bend to the pressure, mums rise to the challenge and never stop trying until everything is under control.
5. Mums are approachable
Working with youth entails having an approachable nature. Youths with problems can have a hard time trusting people and opening up to them. But mums are approachable, and they know how to make people comfortable around them. Mums have this welcoming aura that young people can find irresistible. This is attractive, especially to youths who are having problems with their families.
So, if you are a mum who’s considering taking on a new career, then be a youth worker. You will not only be touching young people’s lives but also helping them get up with the help of your skills that are natural to you.
