Supporting Youth Leadership for Change

Today, more than half of the world’s population is under the age of 30. In community development and social change work, and in society more broadly, there are increasing numbers advocating for the meaningful participation of youth and for young people’s voices to be heard. In many instances however, this sentiment seems to come either from a place of charity (to incorporate the voices of marginalized populations) and/or from a desire to ‘mentor tomorrow’s leaders’ – seeing young people as ‘having future potential’ rather than as being able to offer meaningful, important and unique contributions in the present. However, events around the world throughout history demonstrate that young people are at the heart of social justice and social change, and that young people are disproportionately represented at the leading edge of these movements. They form the core of those addressing today’s great strategic opportunities and challenges, from rebuilding the global economy to combating violent extremism to building a sustainable environment.

There are many individuals and organizations around the world striving to enhance the capacity of young leaders and enable them to optimize their potential to realize their visions for a more equitable future. With so many leadership development programs, trainings and workshops available for young leaders, this website was developed from the idea that it may be helpful to identify some of the fundamental elements involved in Coady youth leadership programs that, in combination, make these programs somewhat unique. Further, utilizing and building upon these foundational and underpinning philosophies that inform Coady youth leadership learning opportunities, some specific examples of program practices, principles and methods are offered that have established the conditions for many participants in these programs to experience some form of personal transformation. And along the way, some of the frameworks and models that support or inform this work will be introduced and referred to.