The 40 Developmental Assets: Asset 34: Cultural Competence
Teach young people to appreciate differences
Although most people gravitate toward people who are similar to themselves, it’s important to expose young people to a variety of cultures and people. People from different cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds can learn many things from one another. Being culturally competent doesn’t mean that you have to like others who are different from you, but rather be able to treat one another with respect, tolerance, and equality. It means making an effort to learn about and understand people of other cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Cultural Competence is Asset 34 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Here are the facts:
Research shows that young people who have knowledge of and feel comfortable with people of different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds feel good about themselves, are less lonely, can solve problems well, and do better in school. About 45 percent of young people, ages 11–18, report having knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, according to Search Institute surveys. Cultural competence builds strong, capable, and interesting young people.
Tips for building this asset:
Cultural competence isn’t just about knowing people from other countries—it’s about showing respect for anyone who thinks, believes, or lives differently than you do. When we model understanding and acceptance, we help young people grow into compassionate, inclusive adults. Help young people learn about the backgrounds of others and create a more understanding world by appreciating differences.
In your home and family: Explain to your child how and why her or his name was chosen. Talk about any connections the name has with your family's roots and culture - old or new.
In your school, neighborhood, and community: Get to know people who are from a different country or have a different cultural heritage from you. Ask them about their family traditions, celebrations, and other unique aspects of their backgrounds.
Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit
https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/developmental-assets-framework.
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2017 Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people.