Youth work in Fiji and the wider Pacific region is receiving growing recognition as advocates call for its acknowledgment as a key professional and educational discipline. Broderick Mervyn, a seasoned youth and community practitioner, emphasizes the pivotal role youth work plays in cultivating leadership, values, and social unity, even though it has historically been overshadowed by other educational sectors.
Mervyn highlights the “Professionalising Youth Work in the Pacific Modules” initiative, which strives to remedy this imbalance by establishing youth work as a formalized, ethical, and educational profession crucial for both national and regional development. He insists that youth work embodies a unique form of education, particularly beneficial for young individuals who may not succeed in conventional academic settings.
“The guidance that young people receive is not left to chance; it comes from trained educators and mentors well-versed in both academic principles and cultural responsibilities,” Mervyn emphasizes. He believes that by elevating youth work to a professional status, the Pacific’s rich cultural traditions can be preserved while being incorporated into contemporary educational systems. This includes blending vital concepts such as intergenerational leadership, storytelling, and community responsibility.
Moreover, Mervyn argues that recognizing youth work as a legitimate educational and cultural service elevates youth practitioners to a status akin to teachers and public servants, recognizing their essential role in the nation-building process across Fiji and the Pacific. This acknowledgment not only boosts civic involvement but also supports social cohesion and the development of ethical leadership. Such advancements bring hope for a brighter future for the region’s youth, reinforcing the value of their contributions to society.