ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN URBAN YOUTH WORK

Urban youth work in Asia faces tremendous challenges in trying to meet the needs of youths and enable them to cope more effectively with issues related to modernization. Some of the more common issues such as rural to urban migration, youth unemployment and underemployment, drug abuse and juvenile delinquency, sexual exploitation and erosion of moral values have to be addressed quickly and realistic long-term solutions found. Youth workers and youth organizations have to examine their organizational mission and discover more effective and efficient ways to deliver youth services. More importantly, youth organizations in urban settings have to move away from mainly a centre-based approach in service delivery to a more outreach emphasis. In doing so, urban youth work will be more dynamic and responsive to meet the needs of youths.