The scope of the present article was to review the conceptualization of youth empowerment and its theoretical models. The aim of this article is not to make an exhaustive list of the dimensions and theoretical models but to introduce the reader to the most relevant ones. Six key dimensions of youth empowerment have been identified in the literature: (a) personal growth and well-being; (b) relational; (c) educational; (d) political; (e) transformative; and (d) emancipative. Five theoretical models were introduced: Adolescent Empowerment Cycle, Youth Development and Empowerment, Transactional Partnering, Adolescent Social Action, and Critical Youth Empowerment framework. It concludes with discussion of the concept of youth empowerment.
Keywords: Empowerment, youth, positive development, participation, power, social action