Homies

Homies: Neighborhood oriented media-based identities with empowering strategies

Cultural diversity, challenge and opportunity – how do youngsters deal with that? While parents and teachers often seem to be overwhelmed, children might perceive the changes in our social environment differently. But who can they look up when adults are culturaldiversityhandrole model?

But – after all – where teachers and parents ever role models for teenagers?

The new digital generation – permanently online, permanently communicating – mobilehaving difficulties in our new world, who can be the new is this new media consumption and engagement a curse or a blessing for our society? Mobile communication is no longer indispensable. Instead of being scared and annoyed by the rise of digital media we should use its chances that come along.

Because – after all – did adults ever understand media use of youngsters?

 

In the homies project, we collaborated with our project partners from peer2peer. Children who are socially talented were trained as peer-coaches; so-called homies. childhappybrown teenager-smokeHomies as well as their peers are studied concerning their well-being before and after the training and peer-coaching process. In addition, we get insight into the perception of homies themselves on the process via weekly media diaries. Our results can be found here.

hands