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Competencies and Training Needs of Adult 4-H Club Leaders to Facilitate Positive Youth Development in Ghana, Africa

Homan, Dustin M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492672937515349

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Agricultural and Extension Education.
4-H, is a global organization reaching over seven million youth in more than 50 countries. 4-H employs an intentionally-structured framework to promote positive youth development. The framework encompasses youth engagement in a relationship with a caring adult, youth involvement in skill-building projects, and youth participation in leadership experiences. Youth who participate in 4-H are postulated to acquire outcomes that will contribute to their resilience, and enable them to make positive contributions. The 4-H framework has been refined in the United States for over 115 years. However, limited data were available regarding applicability of the framework in an international context. The model employed by 4-H has been transferred into new cultures, albeit without validation in the new setting. Therefore, the central problem to be addressed in this study was to explore and describe one element of the 4-H framework in Ghana, Africa – caring, adult volunteers serving as 4-H club leaders. This study builds upon the 4-H framework by positing that adult 4-H club leaders need to possess certain, essential competencies in order to achieve desired youth outcomes, regardless of country or culture. The National 4-H Council promotes a taxonomy of professional competencies for club advisors in the U.S., but 4-H Ghana has not adopted the National 4-H Council’s taxonomy nor developed their own taxonomy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a validated list of professional competencies for adult 4-H club leaders in Ghana. 4-H Ghana stakeholders participated in an exploratory, mixed methods research study to define and validate a list of competencies. Ratings were also collected to help prioritize future training needs. A list of professional competencies for adult 4-H club leaders in Ghana to possess was generated and validated. The list was organized into seven categories, with definitions and examples for each category. The categories included: interpersonal characteristics, experiential learning, resource management, club management, knowledge, communications, and positive youth development. The resulting 4-H Ghana categories were similar to the competencies used by 4-H in the U.S. Similarities between the two competency lists suggest that the caring adult component of the 4-H framework may have relevancy in a unique cultural context outside of the U.S., specifically in Ghana. Additionally, the competency categories of interpersonal characteristics, positive youth development, and resource management were identified as high priority target areas for training and resource interventions based on the performance data collected. Adopting the competencies proposed in this study may result in more strategic interventions by 4-H Ghana (e.g., trainings, handbooks). These interventions equip club leaders with knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable them to facilitate high quality 4-H clubs that foster asset development in youth. Youth possessing developmental assets are expected to become contributing members of society while reducing their likelihood of engaging in problem behaviors. Outcomes of this study benefit 4-H Ghana and the National 4-H Council in order to extend their youth development framework on a more global scale. In addition, results expand the knowledge base related to youth development in contexts beyond the United States.
Robert Birkenholz (Advisor)
Graham Cochran (Committee Member)
173 p.
African Studies; Agricultural Education; Social Research; Sociology; Sub Saharan Africa Studies
youth development, volunteerism, competency, international, training, adult, relationship

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Homan, D. M. (2017). Competencies and Training Needs of Adult 4-H Club Leaders to Facilitate Positive Youth Development in Ghana, Africa [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492672937515349

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Homan, Dustin. Competencies and Training Needs of Adult 4-H Club Leaders to Facilitate Positive Youth Development in Ghana, Africa. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492672937515349.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Homan, Dustin. "Competencies and Training Needs of Adult 4-H Club Leaders to Facilitate Positive Youth Development in Ghana, Africa." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492672937515349

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1492672937515349
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.