Enter Gen Z: Youth is the Answer

At this moment, there are more young people in the world than ever before – and they are all seemingly ready to make a difference – to change the world.

In analysis contained in the 2010 Teen Voice study sponsored by the Search Institute, Best Buy, and Weber Shandwick, we find the answer to the age old question: “How do adults foster and encourage newer generations to make a difference in the world?” Results from the report indicated there are three distinct characteristics in young people who have what it takes to effectively bring about change in their communities: Passion, access to meaningful relationships, and voice.

Passion

Everyone has a spark, represented by what we truly enjoy in life – whether it’s athletic, academic or social. When we look at young people who are focused on their life’s passion, we see that overall they are more prepared to become a leader in their community.

Meaningful Relationships

Having a passion is a start. But how do we as individuals use this energy to effectively bring about change? If one’s mission is to really stand out and be a “purple cow” (as Seth Godin might call it), building meaningful relationships is essential. We all need role models who help us nourish our strengths and mitigate our weaknesses.

The late Judy Bonds, a grassroots anti-coal mountaintop removal activist, reminded youth that “The world is waiting on you to change it.” Youth most often look up to the people who listen to, are interested in, challenge – and laugh and learn with them.

Voice

Even those young people who clearly have the passion and support necessary to bring change often find they must overcome one more barrier – expressing themselves. As a result of building those meaningful relationships, Gen Y and Gen Z have become aware that they can be the movers and shakers. Consequently, emerging leaders with a strong voice exemplify confidence and are ready to practice skills and opportunities to influence what matters to them.

Year after year, youth service-learning organizations have used results from the Teen Voice studies to consider how they might need to improve the focus of their organization.

Even more interesting is that these rules to engaging youth are applicable to many elements of our life.

When we as a global community begin to foster this plan to give our youth opportunities to take on leadership roles in communities, assist in developing our youth’s strengths through meaningful relationships, and build the foundation to allow youth to express themselves, the benefits to societies are limitless.

Resolving our world’s issues should not be left up to the so-called “experts”. The youth of today are motivated – right now – to become catalysts for change.

And to do that, they will not only need passion, access to mentor-style relationships and voice. They’ll need  the support the support of the generations that precede them.