Under the Speak Youth To Power campaign, NDI has emphasized the importance of young people translating their power to sustained action and influence over political decision-making and democratic processes. In support of NDI’s commitment to strengthening young people’s impact, influence and leadership, we spoke to some of our youth-led partners around the world. They shared their stories about expanding civic space and strengthening youth voices, dialogue and debate, advocacy, civic education and political parties. With NDI's assistance in strengthening interpersonal and political organizing skills, organizational development, improving visibility, collaborating with elected officials and financial support, each partner’s work illustrates the importance of expanding civic space and strengthening youth voices. NDI spoke to three youth-led, youth-focused partners in Turkey, Libya and Nigeria to hear more about their work to expand civic space and strengthen youth voices in their communities. 

In Turkey, Sosyal Iklim aims to develop a culture of dialogue among young people and to ensure their active participation in social and political life. Board Chair, Gaye Tuğrulöz, shared that her organization is, “... trying to create spaces for young people to see themselves as leaders. We are trying to say that we don’t have to be older to become decision-makers. We are not the leaders of the future. We are not living for the future. We are the leaders and decision-makers of today. Any decisions that are relevant to young people, we want to get involved. We want to establish these spaces where we have a voice.”

Gaye went on to explain, “In Turkey, many young people believe they must have an affinity with a political party to be involved in politics – but they are not happy with the current parties. We tell them that they don’t have to be part of a formal party and they find that very interesting. In the geography that we live in, we have this polarization, that is just a fact. To counter this, we say that people from different backgrounds can come to our events, such as youth forums, and say whatever they want to say. First, we tell them that they are the leaders of today, and then we create spaces where they can talk about any opinion whatsoever. This prepares them to be active in civic life and promotes their political participation.” By breaking down barriers and creating safe spaces for political dialogue, Sosyal Iklim is supporting the next generation of engaged and active citizens. 

In Libya, members of the Dialogue and Debate Association (DDA), a youth-led partner organization, are working to promote democracy, civic engagement and peaceful societies. DDA works to empower young people to participate in the political process, make their voices heard, and build a better future for Libya through civic education and building skills for dialogue and debate. This is important because, as DDA shared, young people in Libya are facing a number of barriers to political participation, including corruption, violence and political instability. By being creative, DDA is helping young people get around these barriers and use tools like social media to organize and mobilize. 

Another key effort of DDA is to encourage young leaders to participate in civic and political activities by providing them with training in dialogue and debate. In particular, DDA’s  "Youth Dialogue Forum" program, trains young people in the skills of dialogue so that they can communicate effectively and build consensus. The program organizes bottom-up, youth-led dialogue sessions that take place in different municipalities and local communities, in order to build a clearer understanding of what young Libyans need. The program provides young people with opportunities to learn about democracy and civic engagement, to meet with decision-makers and support young people to develop the skills and knowledge to be engaged and effective citizens by providing them with a platform to make their voices heard. Ultimately, DDA equips young people with the tools they need to actively participate in civic life and political processes. 

The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), a youth and young women-led organization in Nigeria is working on youth advocacy and policy development, good governance and anti-corruption, elections and human rights. NIGAWD described how youth political participation means the government making spaces to listen to the desires and concerns of young people and allowing them to be part of the policy-making process.

NIGAWD went on to share how they are opening civic space through their “Vote Not Fight” campaign. They’ve encouraged young people not only to vote but also to run for office and work as election observers. Through the campaign, NIGAWD held town hall meetings and interfaith and intergenerational dialogues. The events aimed to improve young people’s civic engagement in governance issues, educate them on their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and understand how they can participate in democracy beyond elections. By supporting young people beyond elections, NIGAWD is fostering an inclusive environment for young people to participate in civic and political life. 

Together, these stories demonstrate that young people have the drive and political will to make lasting changes in their communities and in their countries. However, they often need meaningful mentorship and spaces that encourage them to actively participate in political discussions and in the political process. The power of democracy lies not only in its institutions but also in the meaningful contributions of young people in all their diversity. As these partnerships and initiatives show, young people’s demand for influence and their ability to develop practical solutions to the challenges facing their communities is an important part of the journey towards a more inclusive and vibrant democracy. NDI sees this pursuit as a collective endeavor guided by the commitment of our partner organizations across the world. 

Author: Sara Hoenes, Program Officer for NDI’s Citizen Participation & Inclusion team

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.