Charlotte May, a philosophy student in the UK, and Olivia, a lawyer-in-training from New Zealand, are both working to bring youth voices to the forefront. Their journeys reflect the broader challenges and successes of youth advocacy.
Finding Connection, Building Hope
For Olivia, amplifying youth voices started with the simple goal of connection. “It was all about making friends,” she says of her time with Link Online Learners, a virtual space where young people from around the world connected despite geographic and socioeconomic barriers. With just a “scrap of internet,” she says, they built a global community, showing the power of technology to foster understanding.
We underestimate young people. Instead of expecting them to have all the answers, we should create spaces where they can explore and learn.
This experience took Olivia from an online forum to a global stage in Bangkok, where she spoke at the Forum of World Education. For her, youth leadership isn’t about token gestures—it’s about making young people central to the decisions that shape their lives.
We need to break the idea of "I’m not on your side, so I’m not going to engage"
Charlotte May shares a similar view. “A lot of grown-ups take me seriously because I’m confident,” she says, recognising the privilege that comes alongside that demeanour. But she worries about her peers, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, whose insights are often overlooked. Both Charlotte May and Olivia point out the problem of “youthwashing,” where organisations that seem to value youth input don’t act on it meaningfully.
At YESfest, Charlotte May witnessed firsthand the potential of young people when given a platform. Watching eight-year-olds brainstorm climate change solutions at YESfest Pendle reaffirmed her belief in youth leadership. “We underestimate young people,” she says, arguing that instead of expecting them to have all the answers, we should create spaces where they can explore and learn.
Beyond the Echo Chamber: Embracing Tough Conversations
In today’s polarized world, both Charlotte May and Olivia see the need for young people to engage in difficult conversations.
Olivia recalls her time at Link Online Learners: “When we encountered really extreme differences... it got tricky.” But she believes these conversations, grounded in friendship and respect, are crucial for building understanding. Charlotte May agrees, emphasising the importance of teaching young people how to have productive dialogue rather than avoiding disagreements. “We need to break the idea of ‘I’m not on your side, so I’m not going to engage,’” she says.
A Call to Action: Passion Fueled by Hope
If there’s one word that defines youth voice, it’s passion. From climate action to global forums, young people like Olivia and Charlotte May are driven by the belief that change is possible. But passion alone isn’t enough—it needs hope.
Olivia reflects on progressive education models she’s seen, noting that hope allows young people to imagine better futures. This hope fuels their commitment to action, pushing them to challenge broken systems and advocate for change.
Young people grow and solve the world's problems. Whether people want them to or not.
Their message to the world is clear: listen. Not with token gestures, but with real intent. Open doors, provide resources, and empower young people to turn their ideas into action. Youth voices need to be heard at every level, from local communities to global decision-making spaces.
As Alex Bell, one of HundrED’s Community Leads and an ardent advocate for youth leadership, says, “If you're older than somebody else, it's incumbent on you, your duty, to listen and enable… Like anything in nature, trees grow, whether you want them to or not. And so young people grow and solve the world's problems. Whether people want them to or not.”
The world’s challenges require fresh perspectives. Charlotte May and Olivia argue that the solutions will come not from old systems but from embracing the ideas and energy of today’s youth. It’s time to join the chorus and help build a future worthy of their vision.
HundrED's Youth Ambassador Programme works to equip young people around the world with the skills to make a difference in their community.
