Strategic Plans of the IYM

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1. The IYM in and for the World of the Young

The IYM is well aware that the study of youth cannot be done effectively, except in and for the world of the young.   The Institute adapts a three-tier approach in dealing with the world of the young.  This system augments the possibility and the horizon of the IYM contributions to the young.  
To realize its vision, mission and objectives, the IYM operates through the following strategies:

• The Academic Programmes
• Research
• Resource and Documentation Service
• Production of Pastoral and Catechetical material, including publications
• Networking
• Consultancy facilities.

Through these strategies it will achieve a wider collaboration with the following groups or organisations, while also offering its services to them:

• The Province of Eastern Africa of the Salesians of Don Bosco and its presences
• The Province of Eastern Africa of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and its presences
• Diocesan youth desks and their co-ordinators of the Catholic Dioceses of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA)
• Don Bosco Youth and Educational Services (DBYES)
• Religious Congregations – of men and women – particularly those oriented to youth ministry and catechetical ministry
• Youth oriented Non-governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and charitable/educational organisations.

The above strategies and network create the possibility of an effective intervention in the society on behalf of the young who, in their turn, would become protagonists of transformation in society.

2. Strategies

2.1. The Academic Programmes of the Institute:

• The IYM offers well worked out inter-disciplinary courses in Youth Ministry.
• Paying particular attention to two major areas of Youth Ministry: Faith Education and Community Education.
• The studies lead to acquiring diplomas and degrees.
• At the beginning, the Institute offers only the first cycle of higher education, but assessing the needs and, with qualified staff and improved facilities, the Institute will venture into other cycles of higher learning.

2.2. Research

• The academic programme includes courses and the practicum that enables the student to be out in the field.
• The IYM trains its students towards empirical studies in concrete youth situations of the African society.
• The IYM will also take up independent researches and surveys on youth related issues in such a way as to contribute to governmental and non-governmental policy making and services on behalf of youth.

2.3. Resources and Documentation Service

• To facilitate research, the IYM will collect and catalogue various sources of information on youth issues.
• The sources will include monographs, training manuals, journals and magazines, back-issues of journals and magazines, newspaper cuttings, directories and almanacs, videos, CD-ROMS, audio-recordings, reports of youth days and celebrations, information on youth groups, unpublished researches and surveys, governmental policies and documents, statistics, website lists and links, etc.
• The primary beneficiaries of the Documentation Service would be the staff and students of the IYM and Tangaza College, but it will also be open to anyone interested in consultation and research.

2.4. Production of Pastoral and Catechetical material

• The IYM will also make contributions to the resources available on youth related issues through its own productions.
• These productions include audio-visual aids, CD-ROMS, multimedia productions, publication of books, manuals, textbooks, pamphlets, etc.
• In this venture the IYM will seek the collaboration of other Institutes of Tangaza College and the assistance of the Bosco Eastern Africa Multimedia Services (BEAMS), for professional help.

2.5. Networking

• The IYM will develop a network with other organisations, institutions and movements – both ecclesial and civil – having a similar focus on youth.
• The Institute already has a well-established network, giving location and background (See Fig. 1-2).
• The IYM, having been jointly founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), receives its contribution of expertise and experience from the individuals and FMA-SDB communities in Eastern Africa, while reciprocating it through animation and alternative thinking.
• The academic status is assured by the Tangaza College and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), of which Tangaza is a constituent College.
• The IYM has also the backing of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) and the Faculty of Sciences of Education, Auxilium (FMA), Rome, for academic exchange, especially texts and lecturers.  These two institutions of higher education have experience and expertise in running academic programmes related to youth ministry.
• The IYM will establish strong ties with NGO’s and other institutions in civil society that have young people, children and education as their priorities.  All these institutions will act as an ample opportunity for our present and future students to seek sponsorship and eventually job-placement.  The link between the IYM’s academic expertise and the NGO’s rich experience will, no doubt, produce relevant interventions on behalf of the young.
• DBYES (Don Bosco Youth and Educational Services), situated not far from the IYM, and an undertaking of the Salesians of Don Bosco, will be a valuable contact for sharing resources, conducting training programmes, reaching out to Dioceses and organisations, etc.

2.6. Consultancy facilities

• The IYM will offer consultancy facilities on youth related issues to governmental and non-governmental agencies, institutions, and to Christian groups. 
• These facilities will include conducting youth surveys, assessment of youth services and of project proposals, human resources management and training.
• The Resource and Documentation unit of the IYM will be open for consultancy services.
• This consultancy service would also be a source of income, as the IYM moves towards financial self-reliance.