Tool: Adapting to changes in adolescents' circumstances

Changes to the community

The demographic profile of adolescents in the programme area is likely to change over time. As new people move to and from the area, the overall population may change, as well as the numbers and percentages of adolescents in different ethnic, language, religious, clan or other groups. Adolescents may leave the area for studies or in search of work, while older adolescent girls and boys transition into adulthood, and younger children enter adolescence.

Possible action: Review adolescents’ attendance at sessions to ensure that you are still meeting your targets for specific groups of adolescents, and that the most vulnerable adolescent girls and boys aren’t overlooked. Consider expanding or reducing your intervention and share information with newly arrived community members about the opportunities offered for adolescents.
Refer to the Reach out and engage adolescents for guidance.

Changes to adolescents’ activities and responsibilities

Adolescents’ daily and weekly schedules may change as their situations and roles evolve. They may marry and become parents, begin or finish studies, enter the workforce, or leave family homes to head their own households. Other factors, such as the opening or closing of food distribution programmes, water points, community kitchens or markets, may also affect adolescents’ schedules, creating more demands on their time, or leaving them with more opportunities to engage in activities with the Adolescent Kit intervention.

Possible action: Be flexible. Consider varying the time and location of some (or all) of activities to meet changes in adolescents’ schedules and to reduce barriers to their participation.

Changes to the physical environment and infrastructure

The physical environment and infrastructure of communities in humanitarian contexts are very susceptible to change. Adolescents’ ability to move safely around their communities may be improved by the construction of new roads, lighting, or expansion of transportation services. However, there may also be crime, tension, unrest or deterioration of roads than can mean they lose access to areas where they could once move freely, and as a result become more confined to their homes or shelters.

Possible action: Consider moving to a new activity space, or rotating activities among a number of different activity spaces to ensure that adolescents can continue to safely access activities with the Adolescent Kit intervention.

Changes to the humanitarian context

Humanitarian situations are continuously evolving. Crises may become protracted, meaning that adolescents and others have to cope with indefinite displacement and uncertain prospects for the future, or may transition into more stable situations - for example, when homes and communities are rebuilt after a natural disaster, when camps become permanent settlements, or adolescents return to their homes.

Possible action: The Adapting for the humanitarian context tool outlines different humanitarian circumstances that may affect activities and approaches with adolescents. Use it for guidance on adapting your intervention (enrolment, space, goals) with the Adolescent Kit.

Changes to conflict and peace dynamics

Conflict and peace dynamics can also change over time. Connections or supportive relationships can emerge between groups as a result of shared experiences or cooperation, or new tensions and negative attitudes may develop.

Possible action: In conflict-affected contexts, adolescents can help to restore stability and build peace. If appropriate, work with facilitators to explore issues of peace and conflict with adolescents using relevant activity guides in the Adolescent Kit.