The social capital helps young people to engage with the others and create a network with the people which might help in their life to reach out the information as well as acts as a safety net. In Southern Europe, the family provides the safety net, rather than the market or the state. From this perspective, it is important to understand the crucial power of the social capital that help young people to reach out the opportunities that they cannot find out by themselves due to lack of information.
Pierre Bourdieu defines the social capital as : “Social capital is the sum of the resources, actual or virtual, that accrue to an individual or a group by virtue of possessing a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition”. As it can be seen that, It’s not just about connections but the inherent potential within these connections that can be used for the benefit of young people due the lack of access to their rights. Therefore, we argue that the community-building perspective is the must targeting the young people to engage in meaningful relations with the others. Social connections serve as a capital for young people to acquire cultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes. By providing an environment that the young people can acquire relationships and interact with the others that possess the knowledge and skill. In addition to that, the social capital helps them to acquire the knowledge to navigate in the challenges of the structural issues of the social welfare systems.
Community-Building
The community-building perspective emerges as a fundamental element in building social capital for young people. It is not merely about establishing connections but fostering relationships that hold tangible benefits. By actively targeting the young demographic, encouraging meaningful interactions, and cultivating a sense of community, we plan to provide young people with the supportive environment that provides them resources to engage in the communities meaningful level.
Conduits for Cultural Knowledge and Skills
Social connections serve as conduits for the acquisition of cultural knowledge, skills, and educational resources. Creating an environment where young people can form relationships and interact with others possessing valuable knowledge and skills is crucial. This dynamic interaction goes beyond the exchange of information; it becomes a means for young individuals to absorb cultural nuances, hone skills, and broaden their educational horizons.
Navigating Structural Challenges
In addition to facilitating knowledge acquisition, social capital plays a pivotal role in helping young people navigate the structural challenges inherent in the social welfare systems. The challenges presented by bureaucratic processes and systemic complexities can be daunting, but social capital provides a framework through which young individuals gain the knowledge and insights needed to maneuver these challenges effectively.
Social Capital as a support system
Social capital acts as a support system, offering a safety net that extends beyond familial boundaries. In a region where family often plays a primary role in providing support, social connections broaden this safety net. By cultivating relationships within the community, young people not only gain access to information and opportunities but also establish a network that can provide emotional and practical support, enhancing their resilience in the face of societal challenges.
We give several examples for NGOs to act upon to tackle with the issues derived from the structure of the social welfare systems in Southern European countries. In this aspect, we have divided the usage of social capital in 4 different segments as : self-initiated mobilization, connection-initiated mobilization, organizationally-driven mobilization, individually-driven mobilization.
Self-initiated Mobilization: Instances when young people independently use their social network, making autonomous decisions to connect with individuals who can offer help or support.
– Example: Reaching out to a friend working in a desired industry for job-related advice or opportunities.
– Importance: Develops confidence and crucial networking skills in young individuals.
Connection-initiated Mobilization: Instances when individuals in a youth’s life, such as program educators, peers, or near-peers, take the initiative in social capital mobilization.
– Example: A friend informing about a job opening at their workplace.
-Youth Program Role: Program educators or peers reaching out to participants regarding professional development, networking events, or other opportunities.
– Benefit: Facilitates resource-sharing and support in relationship-rich environments with shared ambitions.
Organizationally-driven Mobilization: Highlights the role of organizations in social capital mobilization, either through connection-initiated or self-initiated means.
– Example: A company encouraging individuals to refer potential candidates by offering a referral bonus.
– Youth Program Support: Organizations facilitating social capital mobilization through class sessions, networking events, and workshops (e.g., resume writing).
– Inclusivity: Organizations creating spaces for connection, such as using tools like Slack for interactions and community building.
Individually-driven Mobilization: Occasions when social capital is utilized without organizational facilitation, either connection-initiated or self-initiated.
– Example: Educators introducing participants to personal network contacts for informational interviews.
– Peer Dynamics: Informal practices among peers, such as setting up study groups or meeting spaces outside the formal program.
– Significance: Understanding these informal practices helps train educators and integrate effective informal approaches into youth programs. Programs can better support and facilitate informal interactions among youth participants outside of formal sessions.
In this aspect, these four segments can be incorporated in the youth programs to help the youth workers to engage with young people in this manner for developing their social capital to engage with their surrounding more efficiently and reach out opportunities.
