Young People Should Have a Bigger Role in Community Development
Youth engagement should mean more than inviting young people to attend events designed entirely by adults.
Young People Should Have a Bigger Role in Community Development
Young people are frequently described as the leaders of tomorrow.
It is a positive phrase, but it can sometimes become an excuse to exclude young people from leadership today.
Participation Should Be Meaningful
Youth involvement should go beyond asking young people to attend an event after every major decision has already been made.
Meaningful participation means allowing young people to:
- Suggest ideas
- Help design projects
- Make decisions
- Lead initiatives
- Evaluate results
That requires trust.
Young People See Different Problems
Different generations experience communities differently.
A teenager may notice that there are few safe recreational spaces.
A university student may notice limited transportation options.
A young entrepreneur may identify barriers to starting a business.
Those perspectives can improve community planning.
Give Youth Responsibility
One of the best ways to develop leaders is to let people lead.
Community organisations can create youth committees, mentorship programmes and small project funds that allow young people to develop their own initiatives.
Not every idea will succeed.
That is fine.
Leadership develops through responsibility, experimentation and experience.