Every project that is undertaken should be in line with this Model.
The model covers all aspects of a youth group’s desired activities and is aligned with the overall aim to engage the youth in the service of Srila Prabhupada
If a project does not fit the model and is not aligned to the overall aim and mission then it should not be undertaken.
Connect
This first step in the model includes any activity or project that brings people into Krishna Consciousness through the youth group. Some examples of such projects are university preaching, festivals at the local temple, and college preaching. With university preaching and college preaching, they are especially effective when the events organised are regular (once every one or two weeks), so that attendees can get regular association of the devotees and develop a strong relationship with them.
Care
This is the step after “Connect”. Once someone has been connected to the youth group via one of the outreach projects, then there must be some sort of care provided for their development in Krishna Consciousness. This can vary from providing courses people can attend, to hosting retreats where people can get an immersion experience of Krishna Consciousness. Retreats are especially powerful and successful to inspire people in Krishna Consciousness, as for a set period of time they are simply engaged in Krishna Conscious activities: hearing, chanting, serving and associating with the devotees. This step in the model should be the provision of support, guidance and all necessary opportunities for spiritual growth required.
Commit
This is in theory the final step in the model however individuals at this step should also be cared for and therefore the care and commit steps are an on-going process. The greatest element of this step is to engage devotees in service. When engaging devotees in service the most important thing would be to engage them in line with the mission of the youth group: “intelligently in the service of Srila Prabhupada, according to natural taste and ability the service of Prabhupada, according to their natural taste and ability.” This can be established through a mentorship system where experienced and mature devotees agree to look after certain individuals. The mentorship system can care for the individual in many ways, not only in their Krishna Consciousness but also, their services, studies and career paths.