Before we dive in, let’s clarify who we mean by "youth." Without wanting to offend anyone – we promise – we're defining youth as anyone under 25 for this article. It’s a common age range used in statistics to better understand this demographic group’s unique needs and challenges.
What is youth civic engagement?
Youth civic engagement refers to young people's active involvement in addressing public concerns and driving social change. It’s a broad, dynamic concept that varies across cultures and societies, shaped by different interpretations of terms like "youth," "civic," and "engagement."
At its core, youth engagement centers on empowering young people to take collective action, whether through civic skills, knowledge-sharing, or advocacy. While no universal definition exists, youth engagement typically encompasses civic behaviors, attitudes, and goals to create positive change within a community.
Why should our community invest in youth engagement?
Of the roughly 8 billion people in the world, 42 percent are under 25. Never before have there been so many young people on the planet. Every day, policymakers make thousands of important decisions that directly impact young people's lives. However, too often, young people are still excluded from these decisions.
They lack meaningful opportunities to contribute their ideas and perspectives, to be involved in drafting policies, and to be part of shaping the decisions that impact their futures.
The Be Seen Be Heard Youth Survey, a joint initiative by the UN and The Body Shop Foundation, reveals that 76% of respondents feel that politicians do not listen to them.
This lack of inclusion comes with a consequence: disillusionment with democracy. In the OECD’s Trust Survey, young people showed lower levels of trust in government than any other age group. The Open Society Barometer shows that up to a third of young people lack faith in democracy and current processes to deliver on their priorities.
This is a missed opportunity.
Benefits of youth engagement
Our communities are facing a multitude of challenges that echo those on a global scale. Climate change is disrupting local weather patterns and straining infrastructure. Social inequalities are leading to disparities in housing, education, and job opportunities. Adding to this complex mix is our aging population.
For local governments, this convergence of issues presents several critical challenges:
- We need innovative, localized solutions that fit within the constraints of municipal budgets and resources.
- We must nurture a new generation of local leaders equipped to navigate these complex challenges, capable of bridging divides within diverse neighborhoods and fostering community cohesion.
Youth engagement brings innovative solutions
When young people are engaged in local governance, they bring fresh perspectives to longstanding community issues. Unburdened by "we've always done it this way" thinking, they challenge assumptions and spark innovation.
It's also a matter of effectiveness. Policies and programs are more likely to be effective when informed by the people they intend to serve.
Youth engagement nurtures a new generation of leaders
Youth engagement is a crucial and powerful recipe for success. Engagement opportunities serve as a springboard for young people's growth. They provide a platform to develop vital skills like leadership, communication, and critical thinking.
Furthermore, engagement opportunities enhance their personal and professional interest in community service, political action, and other forms of public engagement. Simply put, engaging at a young age makes them more likely to continue participating in such efforts.
Challenges in youth engagement
While the advantages are significant, we must admit that implementing effective youth engagement strategies comes with its own challenges. Understanding and proactively addressing these obstacles is essential for creating meaningful and lasting participation among young people.
- Tokenism and power imbalance
For youth to trust that their involvement is genuine, they need to feel empowered and have actual control over the processes that affect them. Many engagement initiatives are currently designed and led by adults, with youth participation limited to providing input rather than shaping outcomes. This makes young people feel their involvement is tokenistic and won’t lead to change. This mistrust discourages participation.
- Limited awareness of participation opportunities
Many young people are unaware of how and where they can get involved in decision-making processes, resulting in missed chances for the community and the young individuals.
- Perception of engagement as irrelevant and time-intensive
Engagement is often considered boring or overly demanding, leading to lower involvement rates and less diverse input.
Best practices to engage young people in decision-making
1. Tailor your approach — youth isn't one monolithic group
It’s important to remember that "youth" includes a wide range of people with different interests and backgrounds. You must know who you’re trying to reach to communicate and engage with them effectively.
Are you talking to high school students, university graduates, or young professionals? Are they from a comfortable financial background or one with limited resources?
Each group will respond to different approaches, so make sure your communication is relevant and appealing to them.
2. Make youth engagement part of your culture
Youth engagement shouldn’t be just a box to check. It must be embedded in your government’s overall culture of engagement. This means treating young people as real partners, not just asking for their input as an afterthought.
When you genuinely value and integrate their feedback into your policy and decision-making processes, they’ll feel empowered and more willing to contribute.
3. Make participation accessible and relevant
Don't wait for young people to come to you, but meet them where they are. This shows a commitment to their involvement and removes participation barriers they may experience. When you understand their interests and the environments where they feel most comfortable, you can design projects that are more likely to succeed.
Additionally, participation is effective when it’s enjoyable. Creativity and fun are vital in involving young people. Mix engagement methods that are informal and interactive with more formal ones to make the process feel less like a formal duty.
Want to dive deeper? Download our practitioner’s guide to meaningful youth engagement in local decision-making
Youth engagement is essential if you want to successfully tackle today’s challenges, and it’s something that takes real effort to get right. Download our practitioner’s guide to discover actionable strategies for youth engagement, avoid common pitfalls, and learn from successful case studies from our Go Vocal community.
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