Youth Empowerment
In August 2018, 15 year old Greta Thunberg began protesting outside the Swedish Parliament building. Friends and classmates laughed and refused to join her, her parents discouraged the idea, and strangers walked by her one-woman protest in pity and embarrassment.
The situation could not be more different today: her school strike for climate banner has been translated into dozens of languages, her protests and rallies are repeated every day by hundreds of students from all over the world, and the effects of her protests are felt around the globe. Greta Thunberg has gone from being an introverted high school student to a global leader and inspiration.
At a young age, Greta realized the need for immediate action to combat climate change. She was dismayed at the lack of concern the adults around her expressed. She got the idea for the climate strike after hearing about a group of kids in the United States who refused to go back to school after a school shooting and organized the March for Our Lives in support for better gun control. She protested alone on the first day, not even receiving support from her family, but she refused to give up. She was joined by a few people on the second day, and a few more the next day. Climate change deniers made public attempts to discredit her by claiming she was insane because of her autism and mental health issues. Others agreed with her views but argued that children are not capable of leading a climate change movement. She didn’t let this backlash discourage her, and she promised to strike every day until the Swedish national elections. She continued to gain more confidence, and in March, she got up in front of thousands of people and made a motivating speech at the People’s Climate Rally.
Sophia Cruz is a nine year old girl in the United States whose parents are undocumented immigrants from Oaxcaca, Mexico. She leads activism aimed towards assuring the continuance of the DAPA program (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) in the United States, which would allow people like her parents to remain in the country legally. Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban at the age of 15 and was shot in the head. She survived and went on to be a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Since the age of 8, Autumn Peltier has been spreading awareness about the realities of water pollution and campaigning for the preservation of water for First Nation people in Ontario, Canada. She has spoken before the United Nations General Assembly and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Emma Gonzalez survived a school shooting in Parkland, Florida and went on to become a young activist and advocate for better gun control. She co-founded the gun-control advocacy group.
Some of the most powerful and inspiring activists have been empowered young leaders. These young leaders have made a profound difference and brought about positive change. They prove that it’s possible for youth to make a difference and they empower youth across the globe to stand up and make a difference. There is no minimum age for activism, engagement and leadership. Youth should no longer be excluded from decision making; they should collaborate with adults to bring about positive change. When included in discussions of world issues, youth activists can offer a unique perspective and innovative solution ideas. The world now has the largest generation of youth in history, and it’s time for youth to take a stand regarding issues we are passionate about.
