No more excuses: Child and youth participation is the future of philanthropy
As countries across the globe grapple with issues of racism, sustainability and democracy, young people are at the forefront of change to create a more equitable, just and peaceful world. Yet social change initiatives and justice movements – and the philanthropies that fund them – too often view children and youth only as beneficiaries, engaging them tokenistically, if at all. Even fewer funders provide resources directly to youth- and adolescent-led organizations, activists and movements. These dynamics not only alienate young people and undermine the confidence and capacity of generations to come but also impede our goals by failing to include those most impacted by the issues we’re trying to address. Approximately forty percent of the world’s population is under the age of 24.
How can philanthropy and civil society build the future world we want without centering the people who will be living in it?