Program Framework
The program is offered through various partnering agencies that refer youth to Youth Directions. The program holds weekly and bi-weekly meetings and mentoring sessions that are highly interactive and provides the participants with real opportunities to experience working in areas of their passion.

The program shows youth an alternative reality to their lives other than crime, antisocial behavior, homelessness or underachievement. It opens their eyes to a productive path at which they can uniquely succeed. In addition the program helps the participants attain the object of their creative passions through ongoing coaching. Youth Directions also connects participants with professionals working in the area of their passion who will help coach and guide them towards their goals.

Core of the program

At its core this program offers youth a three step course to help them find their authentic passion in life. Below is a brief outline of the three step course

Part 1:

Participants will make a list of the following:

  1. Creative things they have done from childhood onwards that they became engrossed in to the extent that they lost all sense of time and self.
  2. Work or jobs that family, friends or acquaintances have done and think they would love to do and that they could do well.
  3. Work or jobs that they have read about or seen in movies and feel attracted towards and think they could do well.

Part 2:

Narrowing down their list

Participants will take each of the passions on their list and do the following:

  1. Visualize doing each job on the list. They will then cross off those that excite them less.
  2. Briefly educate themselves about each job on the list. Cross off those that they find less interesting. The program will offer the participants study materials in the area of their potential passions. Participants will then undertake a short exam on the material studied to determine whether that subject matter is related to their innate passions.
  3. The program will help create opportunities for participants to experience doing the last few items remaining on their list. For example if it is determined that a participant’s last three possible passions are fashion design, nursing and architecture, the program will arrange for him or her to spend time helping a fashion designer, spend time in a nursing home or hospital helping the patients and assisting a professional architect.
The item that, when carried out, awakens the most passion will be identified as their authentic passion.