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Appendix (iv) A PERSPECTIVE FROM NON FAITH BASED YOUTH WORK - Steve Witt CONTEXT: Facilitating the spiritual growth of young people has been a key objective for many youth work curriculum’s over the years. Indeed the origins of organised youth work as we know it today in the UK were often laid by philanthropists usually connected to local Church groups. These traditions are very much alive with Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist groups having taken the lead in the development of faith based social education for young people. Much of this education although delivered by practising Christians or Hindus will guard against being too prescriptive in delivering specific beliefs. Yet I would argue that spiritual growth does not have to be facilitated within the sphere of an established faith. I feel that a great deal of spiritual development work happens within what many might term as the secular youth work sector. Often it will be delivered by workers who do not identify themselves as religious but might describe themselves as spiritual. So what do we mean by spiritual? In essence it’s a feeling that humans have when they experience a heightened sense of their individual selves. At such moments the individual sees what is wondrous and important about themselves and their world, which allows them to put the daily stress of life into a calmer context. I feel that a spiritual person might identify themselves as having the following qualities. A strongly felt connection with the natural world
A belief that we can change our lives though adopting a positive outlook, and through positive action, similar to the concept of karma. A belief that all humans are able to change their lives (action and reaction). A belief in the connective power of the group. A sense that God is a power that represents truth. That God exists within. An understanding that energy is not just physical force but is also a very tangible spiritual presence within our daily lives. Whence some might talk about positive and negative energies. An acceptance that an individual’s feelings can never be wrong. That God might be represented by the natural world. That each individual has their own spiritual journey. Heightened spirituality might be experienced when we feel moved by music, laughter. An acknowledgement that whatever one’s feelings are they are valid, and multidimensional. An understanding that apparent coincidences might be the result of other phenomena that we have had some influence on. Of course not all of these values are exclusive to a self defined spiritual person. However they do give a flavour of what might be important to a non religious but spiritually based youth worker.
So how do these values translate into the delivery of youth work? PRACTICE I believe that spirituality can only be experienced and as such cannot be taught. The youth worker should not be in the business of trying to deliver a spiritual curriculum. The point of such work is not to try and label experiences as “spiritual” but rather to allow young people the possibility that there is another dimension to all our lives that can nurture us in a way that is unattainable elsewhere. This might be left as a private experience but sharing such beliefs can also be a wonderous experience. It can also validate young people’s feelings and not leave them feeling weird, strange or isolated. So its not about saying well lets go and do some spiritual youth work this evening, rather its about acknowledging that there is the possibility of the spiritual dimension in everything we do and being open to it can help create new levels of personal growth. EXAMPLE Several years ago I was working on a summer camp with a group of young men from the inner city. The group were keen to go on a night time walk across the fields and then into the woods. There was a full moon and fast moving clouds. The group were pretty pumped up with energy, and for sometime messing around was their only apparent agenda, although some of this
