You are at the table with your parents, and a political debate arises in the conversation. You give your opinion. But at that moment, everyone acts as if you said nothing or even tells you not to interrupt the adults.
Does that mean your opinion doesn’t matter? That it’s absurd? No.
It means that you were ignored, despite your good ideas. Thousands of young people in the world have ideas, even good ones, yet just like you, no one listens to them.
That is when some decided to rebel, and youth activism was born.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)What's Youth Activism?
Youth activism is something fundamental and present in our daily life. More and more young people are becoming aware of these kinds of issues, from climate change to their rights as human beings, and it is something very positive.
This involvement allows adults to have more constructive, “younger” opinions, or simply to hear what the future generation has to say and they have a lot to say.
Simple example: Greta Thunberg
Greta is a 23-year-old activist. She started with ecology and now engages in causes in Pakistan and many others. She has received several distinctions and is seen as an icon of Generation Z.
In the summer of 2018, at the age of 15, she protested in front of the Swedish Parliament against inaction on climate change. In November 2018, she launched the School Strike for Climate (Skolstrejk för klimatet), in which she personally participated until June 2023.
Of course, sometimes (even often) adults do not listen or do not care. Yet it is more important than what they think.
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Why Does Being Heard Matter?
Listening to young people’s opinions helps create a more social and inclusive community, encourages confidence and participation, promotes civic engagement, and supports young people who have not had the same opportunities as others.
Being heard is a basic right and a form of politeness/respect in everyday life, yet some people do not take this into account.
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The Fact Of Not Being Heard (Psychologically Speaking)
Feeling ignored/not listened to causes frustration and the impression that what is being said is insignificant, that it is useless, or that the person should not have spoken.
This person will have difficulty communicating, thinking that everything they say is stupid, and therefore will never give their opinion, will never be heard, and will feel that they do not matter.
This chain reaction is harmful to human beings because expressing oneself is actually a good thing: it allows us to improve in response to constructive criticism or even to reflect when we make mistakes. Without it, the world would be much more complicated than it already is.
To add a personal anecdote, here it is: I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a video about an organization supporting a cause close to my heart. I went to the comments and saw a debate among several people; I decided to participate by giving my opinion on the situation. And the immediate response was: "What, are you 13 years old? You're a child who talks nonsense on social media."
It's the same when I simply review a movie I liked on Reddit; this same expression keeps coming up: "What, are you 13 years old? You don't know what you're talking about." But as far as I know, knowledge about a subject doesn't depend on age, but on what we've learned.
Age is not a factor in knowledge.
Moreover, there are associations, programs, or even courses that help or guide you to speak up about causes that interest you.
The resources made available
As I have just mentioned, resources are accessible to help us express ourselves. Here are a few:
Youth Speaks: A national organization that helps young people express themselves through poetry or other creative performances, and to make their voices heard in the world.
Youth Service America (YSA): A large organization that engages young people (ages 5–25) to participate in service projects, civic and community engagement. It offers training, resources, campaigns, and leadership opportunities so that young people can express themselves and act for the common good.
Afterschool Alliance – Youth Ambassador Program: A national program that trains young people to become ambassadors of their own experiences, to write, speak in public, and defend their ideas in front of decision-makers and media.
In Tandem Youth Voice Fellowship: A program that encourages young people to express themselves, conduct research, and share their perspectives, with some scholarships available for participants.
Advocates for Youth: An organization that works with young people to defend their rights, particularly on reproductive health, social justice, and civil rights, and provides tools to engage locally.
Amnesty International Youth & Students (USA): The youth program of the American branch of Amnesty that allows young people to lead human rights groups, run campaigns, and acquire skills in organizing and advocacy.
I have only listed six, but there are hundreds for every continent, and I am sure you will find one that will make you feel most heard.
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Conclusion
Youth activism is something important, both for young people themselves and for building a better world, and it is important to listen to them not ignore them.
