University of Florida

Rationale for Maximum Youth Involvement

The long tradition of making decisions for youths without youths has failed. Collaborating with young people is gaining acceptance by youth-serving nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other decision-making institutions across the country. Equally important, youth infusion can enhance capacity, credibility, and clout.

#1: Youths Can Serve as Role Models and Peer Educators

Peer education is perhaps the most widely recognized and accepted role for young activists. It is no secret that kids listen to kids. Teenagers as well as pre-teens can be excellent teachers, credible messengers, and effective recruiters. Many believe the real benefit is that peer educators practice what they preach and avoid risky behaviors.

#2: Youths Can Influence Their Parents and Other Adults

Sons and daughters have more influence on their elders than is acknowledged. Persuading a relative to quit smoking or prodding a parent to register to vote are examples of the positive domino effect that children can have on grownups.

#3: Youths Can Diagnose Problems and Provide Reality Checks

Young people have firsthand knowledge about their school and community environment. Youth collaboration can collect data adults cannot obtain from other youths, and can offer a pragmatic client perspective to data analysis and planning.

#4: Youths Can Challenge Conventional Thinking

These underage allies offer fresh perspectives and imaginative ideas. “Children everywhere can stop us short with their unnerving moments of innocent good sense,” writes Robert Coles in The Political Life of Children.

#5: Youths Can Attract News Media Coverage

Students who write letters to the editor, pitch a story to a producer, or send out news releases have an advantage. A sound bite by a teenager stands a better change of being quoted in an article or over the airwaves than speeches by experts and other articulate, knowledgeable advocates.

#6. Youths Can Capture the Attention of Decision-Makers

Concerned young people, whose motives are rarely questioned, can motivate power brokers to take action. One public health advocate claimed, “Without your on our coalition, parents, as well as school officials and politicians, would not listen to me.

#7. Youths Can Pursue Unorthodox Tactics and Circumvent Roadblocks

Young people can take advantage of their age and gain access to VIPs without scheduled meetings or abiding by conventional protocol.

#8. Youths Can Motivate Others

Certainly teaming up with young people can be frustrating but when it works, the benefits are stunning. Professionals, form teachers to CEOs who serve with young people on board of directors, as well as members of an intergenerational coalition, frequently rave about how the meetings are more lively, the adults are more polite to one another, and there is a positive, energizing impact on politicians and other decision-making. 

Wendy Lesko, author of Youth! The 26% Solution
Founder, Youth Activism Project 
P.O. Box E, Kensington MD 20895
1-800-KID-POWER | info@YouthActivism.com | www.YouthActivism.com