Evaluation of Youth Empowerment in Informal Settlements (Case Study: Ali Ibn Abitaleb Neighbourhood, Arak City)

AbstractAs a social capital, youths are the driving force of a country, and if they are properly planned and trained, they can act as an active force in raising the high goals of the society. But in some areas, including marginal areas, due to geographical conditions, lack of service, poverty, the prevalence of delinquency and addiction, etc., young people are exposed to all kinds of social harm. In the present study, by studying the background of the research and sources, we have extracted the dimensions of youth empowerment in Ali Ibn Abitaleb Neighbourhood (Arak City) by preparing a questionnaire. This research is descriptive-analytical and practical in terms of purpose. The sample size was determined according to the statistical population of this neighborhood using Cochran's formula. According to the census 2015, the population of the area was 37,249 people. First, questionnaires were distributed (online and manually) among young people, after completing the questionnaire, 200 people were selected according to the variance obtained from the initial sample. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. The results indicate that the environmental factor has the highest factor load with a weight of 0.94. Also, the factor of personal context with a factor load of 0.84 is in the next order, which indicates the existence of a high context for empowerment programs among young people.Keywords: Empowerment, Youth, Ali Ibn Abitaleb Neighbourhood, Arak City. IntroductionYoung people are willing to strive for change that affects well-being, health, and citizenship status, which should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. They are the main foundation of a country, the main sub-structure of any social structure, and the backbone of any successful nation. In addition, they are the driving force of the country's development and active citizens who participate in building stronger and more just societies. For this reason, they should be seen beyond themselves, because in this period of transition between adolescence and youth, young people are recognized as an active and fully responsible member of the society. This stage is also a period when identity crises affect the individual. The psychological structure is dominant and their identities are never complete but constantly changing. Therefore, youth empowerment as one of the main elements of youth participation is the key to sustainable development and a phenomenon by which young people realiz