Youth participation is not just a nice idea—it is both a right and a necessity. When young people are involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives, communities become more inclusive, just, and forward-looking. Yet far too often, young people are invited to share their opinions without being given the power to influence outcomes. True participation goes beyond speaking—it requires action, collaboration, and shared ownership.
The article was created as part of the Erasmus+ project "El Impacto", which took place in Barcelona on 19-25.05.2025
From Voice to Action: How Youth Workers Can Promote Youth Participation
In August 2018, a 15-year-old Swedish student named Greta Thunberg launched a local protest that would soon evolve into a worldwide youth-led movement. Her "School Strike for Climate" began as a solitary act of defiance.Her goal was simple yet urgent: to demand that her government take meaningful action against climate change. From that modest beginning, Greta's initiative sparked a global wave of activism. She inspired students across the world to join her in striking from school every Friday, giving rise to the "Fridays for Future" movement. This growing movement quickly became a symbol of youth-driven climate activism, uniting millions of young people around a common cause: to hold political and corporate leaders accountable for their inaction on the climate crisis. The movement doesn't just call for symbolic gestures or vague promises—it demands concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and ensure climate justice. Its power lies not only in large-scale global protests, but also in localized efforts. Students are encouraged to adapt the movement to their own communities, striking outside local government buildings and raising awareness at the grassroots level.
What makes Fridays for Future especially powerful is that it is entirely youth-led. It amplifies the voices of young people who are often excluded from formal decision-making, yet are among the most affected by the long-term consequences of climate change.
This is what genuine youth participation looks like. It means giving young people space, support, and power to take the lead. But what does that really mean, and how do we ensure it happens in real life?
Youth participation is the active engagement of young people in decisions and actions that affect their lives and communities. One of the best tools to understand this concept is Roger Hart's Ladder of Youth Participation. This model outlines eight levels of youth involvement, starting from non-participatory forms such as manipulation, decoration, and tokenism, and moving toward higher, more meaningful forms—where young people initiate ideas, share decisions with adults, and lead projects themselves.Real participation means going beyond that. It means treating young people not just as recipients of decisions, but as partners and leaders. This shift doesn't happen automatically. There are significant barriers that many young people face when trying to engage.
Societal attitudes often dismiss youth as inexperienced or naive. Many adults underestimate what young people are capable of and assume that "they'll understand when they're older." This kind of thinking creates a culture where young voices are routinely sidelined. Economically, not every young person has equal access to opportunities. Some may not afford transportation to events or internet access for virtual participation. Others may not have the time due to work, caregiving responsibilities, or lack of institutional support. On top of that, unequal access to quality education can limit awareness of civic rights and opportunities.
Another major barrier is adultism—a belief system that privileges adults over young people. It shows up in schools, governments, and organizations where youth are expected to follow rules but rarely allowed to help make them. Add to this the exclusion faced by marginalized youth—those from racial minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, or refugee backgrounds—and it becomes clear that the system is not equally open to all. These systemic challenges can leave young people feeling disempowered and disengaged.
This is where youth workers, educators, and teachers play a critical role. They can be the bridge between disempowerment and leadership. Not just organizers or supervisors, youth workers are facilitators, mentors, advocates, and co-creators.
As facilitators, they create safe and inclusive environments where young people feel respected and heard. As mentors, they offer personal support, helping young people navigate doubts, challenges, and questions about their identity and power. As advocates, they speak up for youth in adult-dominated spaces, pushing institutions to include young voices in a meaningful way. And most importantly, as co-creators, they work with young people, not for them. They help design projects together, share decisions, and support youth-led action. This approach doesn't only empower young people—it transforms entire communities.
Every time an adult believes in a young person's vision, offers tools instead of limits, and stands beside them rather than in front of them—they ignite something powerful. That spark can lead to confidence, leadership, and real change.
Youth participation is not optional—it is fundamental to a thriving, democratic society. From local initiatives to global movements for climate action and human rights, young people are already leading. The question is not whether they're ready—it's whether the systems around them are ready to support and follow.
