Youth participation is everywhere: in policymaking, education, and research. But what does it really accomplish? When does it empower young people? How do we ensure that young people are not overburdened? We explored these questions on February 26 during the Healthy Start Colloquium Balanced Youth Participation.

Opening

Chair Karim Amghar kicked off the afternoon interactively: Who is from Rotterdam? Who likes running? Who teaches? “This interactive approach symbolizes how we work at Healthy Start,” said Lysanne te Brinke (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Ambition Lead) a little later. “There is already so much knowledge in society, we want to learn from that.”

Catrin Finkenauer (Utrecht University, Dynamics of Youth) gave an inspiring talk. Investing in youth is essential because young people are a mirror of society: “When young people get stuck, it says something not only about them, but also about the world we have created together.” That is why we build resilience not only in young people, but also around them. Her message? “Allow yourself a thorn in the side—and be prepared to be one yourself sometimes.” Thorns are annoying, but they also keep us awake. And that’s important, because we tend to believe that reality is as we experience it, and that those who see it differently must be misinformed.

Pecha kuchas

Best practices from Healthy Start were shared via two pecha kuchas. Judith van de Wetering (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Ambition Fellow) said: “In my opinion, the next step in youth participation is not necessarily to do more. But to do better. To work together better, so that we don’t overburden youth. And to connect better, so that we really motivate youth to contribute. ”

Charlotte van Tuijl (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Ambition PhD candidate) made an appeal: “Slow down before you speed up. Invest in the relationship before you invest in the report. Because only when you really know their world, you can give their voice the power it deserves.”

Route discussions

During route discussions, participants discussed balanced youth participation based on a series of statements. For example: “Without decision-making power, youth participation is mostly symbolic” (Save the Children). And: “The most important outcome of youth participation is not improved policy, but stronger, more resilient, and more self-aware youth” (Stichting Talents and Dreams).

Closing

We ended the day with drinks and an information market, where several (youth) organizations and scientists exhibited their creative projects, products, and reports. We look back on an energetic, interactive afternoon where many different perspectives came together!

Watch the after movie below!