MINDCHANGERS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MEETING

Working Groups

(please only select one first choice and one second choice group from the ones listed below)

Young people are not being heard

Many young people are advocating for the causes they are interested in, they do feel however, that decision-makers and people in charge of the needed changes do not listen to suggestions and ideas of young people and even more so do not recognize accomplishments and efforts. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.

Financial Compensation

For many people, especially e.g. students, volunteering is in strong competition to temporary jobs that can be done along school/ studies/ fulltime job. Many young people are naturally inclined to choose temporary jobs that pay their living costs compared to less paying or unpaid volunteering opportunities. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.  

Structures of Entities

Being actively engaged often requires finding the right organizations offering activities that match your interests and values. Young people have expressed that finding the right NGO, or even having enough opportunities to participate, seems rather difficult due to internal structures or the ways NGOs operate, which can be discouraging. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.

Physical & Mental Stress

Active engagement in projects and initiatives requires time and ability to set priorities. Even then, volunteering and taking care of all other responsibilities can cause stress. On the other hand, the causes that are addressed by the 2030 Agenda can be emotionally intense and draining, which might cause young people to experience anxiety and be cautious in joining projects and initiatives. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.

Educational Aspects

Engaging in topics related to the 2030 Agenda requires a lot of information to understand the importance of working towards the SDGs. While issues such as climate change, migration, and global justice are indirectly addressed in schools, the provided information barely causes young people to take action outside of the school system. In addition, schools rarely show students how volunteering processes, such as finding the right organization, do work. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.

Lack of Trust in Young People

While the landscape of LAs and NGOs that offer young people opportunities of participation are steadily growing, they still tend to have top down decision processes and lack elements of decision-making by young people themselves, which leads to the impression that institutions do not give young people enough opportunities to implement ideas and take responsibility. This working group will focus on gathering ideas and finding possible solutions to this barrier.

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