Evaluating the Effectiveness of the FARSI(Family-Centered Adolescent Resilience and Social Identity) Model on Youth Development Outcomes in Zamfara State, Nigeria: A Pre-Post Intervention Study

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Family-Centered Adolescent Resilience and Social Identity (FARSI)model, a culturally adapted, community-based youth development intervention implemented in Gusau, ZamfaraState, northern Nigeria. The FARSI programme operates through a structured seven-phase weekly cyclecomprising: (1) skills training in drama, music, video editing, graphics design, and computer literacy; (2) dramaand comedy video performance by the programme's drama team; (3) academic and intellectual games with prizes;(4) Oracle-guided peer group discussion; (5) panel question-and-answer dialogue between participants andmentors (including Rotary International volunteers); (6) music team performance; and (7) facilitator-ledinspirational teaching using original songs, African proverbs, and quotations from The Oracle: Foundations of theInner Life (Joseph, 2025) — a three-volume published compendium. On strategic occasions, the programme alsoprovides communal feeding and participant transportation. Using a pre-post single-group design (N = 48; Mage =17.4 years; 54.2% male), improvements were assessed across ten developmental domains. Paired-samples t-testsrevealed statistically significant improvements across all ten domains (all p < .001; Cohen's d = 2.03–2.59).Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = .906). Multiple regression identified identity clarity (β = .461,p = .005) and values integration (β = .373, p = .012) as primary predictors of moral decision-making (R² = .471).Qualitative findings documented voluntary book purchasing, career aspiration formation in 35 of 48 participants(72.9%), family reunification, and exit from risk behaviours. The FARSI model demonstrates significant promisefor addressing youth radicalization, family breakdown, and antisocial behaviour in conflict-affected settingsacross Nigeria and the Sahel.