The role of groupwork in social action projects with youth

This article presents a case study, and puts forth an approach to social justice work with young people, that impacts youth development, empathy, and social change by applying two social work models, Self-directed groupwork, and its model for stages of group development, along with concepts of expressive and instrumental social roles in groups. The personal growth for the youth was demonstrated by their increased confidence, greater academic interest, and more positive perceptions by teachers. Socially they exhibited heightened understanding of others, communication skills, and teamwork. The result for the community was seen in the social change skills they acquired and the project they implemented.