planning and public policy to support youth

To ensure that public policies are designed to improve the future for youth, the most important priority for planners and policy-makers is to listen to youth. Young people are experts on their capacities. They are creative, innovative and practical, and they want to be heard. They understand fiscal responsibility and fiscal restraint and are prepared to work on developing affordable solutions. They also have a keen sense of justice and feel disenfranchised. They did not have a hand in population aging, child poverty, resource scarcity or the decline of rural communities. Yet, they recognize that as tomorrow’s adults, they will take responsibility in planning for the future.

“I think if the government...paid more attention to what the students and youth think, there would be a lot better education system. I think if they actually listened to what, quote, ‘kids’ – that’s what they call us – actually had to say, actually listened to how we would like school to be – like not so many people in classes – then I think they’d have a lot more successful people coming out of high school and going to university... if they actually asked the students what they wanted, they’d probably have a better education system altogether.”

The solutions to issues that affect youth now and in the future must include consultation with, and involvement of, youth in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs.

 

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