Youth participation in decision-making – why is it important?

In today’s world, every young person seeks to participate in solving the problems of their community or city, but usually has very limited access to this process. After all, neither school, nor parents, nor even friends tell them how they can influence this or that situation. And sometimes adults imitate the participation of a child, in order to save time and avoid explaining to young people about their rights and roles.

Youth participation is an opportunity to influence, change and change yourself. It is a process that helps to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, knowledge and skills necessary for effective influence on various processes, socialization, and acquisition of practical skills of the manager. In the process of cooperation between young people and adults develops sociability, the ability to navigate in today’s difficult information space, to take responsibility for decision-making.

In “YOUNG CITIZENS” Project, we carry out our activities so that young people:

were aware of their rights and understood their role in the community;
knew how they could affect the situation in the community;
participated in decision-making concerning them;
were active and participated in the activities of public organizations and local governments;
established a dialogue with stakeholders and individuals to implement joint initiatives;
understood that modern rulers are the same participants in the decision-making process as themselves.

Young people can participate in the decision-making process of a wide range of issues. But it is important that its involvement is safe and effective, so that every young person becomes a full participant in this process.

“YOUNG CITIZENS” Project is implemented by Terre des hommes in Ukraine within the project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine”.