ABSTRACT
It is well established that communities play a critical role in the development of young people, while the role of young people as contributors to community development efforts is becoming increasingly recognized (Brennan et al. 2007). However, youth development and community development are often seen as conceptually separate entities. In this chapter, we draw on findings from a qualitative study of youth cafés in Ireland to illustrate how youth development initiatives can contribute to the development of placed-based communities among young people, which are characterized by solidarity, shared norms and values.
