Youth are perhaps notoriously viewed as uninvolved in our communities, and at times uncaring about the issues playing out around us. Yet, nearly all social and political issues affect young people, and the ones that don’t now, certainly will in the future. As such, it’s clear that augmenting youth engagement is critical to the growth of younger generations, and the development of the community as a whole.
During our interview discussing the issue, Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor highlighted areas such as environmental work and restoration, and volunteering through groups such as Scouts and Girl Guides as key areas where youth are getting involved. Nonetheless, he maintained that participation in local government in particular remains limited.
Still, youth are seemingly quite engaged in other areas. Statistics show that Gen Z (people aged 12-27) have the highest volunteer rate in the country, at 52% (Statistics Canada, 2022), partly due to the many volunteering requirements put in place for students. Such requirements are for good reason. Getting involved early leads to more informed and engaged citizens, who are more likely to participate in society moving forward. In addition, learning about the democratic process informs youth about the decisions that affect us, and how those decisions are made. Participation in one’s community has also been researched to bring “increases in academic performance and improvements in social-emotional well-being” (Tufts University, 2024). It also provides integral experience in communication, teamwork, and more that we carry with us for our whole lives.
The positive effects aren’t just for young people, however, and can benefit the community in its entirety. Teens and young adults can present fresh, future-looking perspectives, bringing new solutions to issues that affect us all. We can take part in important work that improves our areas for everyone. With loneliness and social isolation on the rise among all demographics, taking an interest in the community can aid the mental health of everyone, bridging generational gaps and connecting people with different backgrounds.
So, with the plethora of aforementioned benefits, how can we increase involvement among youth? By nature, we gravitate to what interests us. If we’re looking to boost engagement, we must not only capitalize off of existing interests, but search for opportunities for youth to discover new passions and challenge ourselves. With a multitude of benefits for everyone involved, perhaps it is time for our youth to take a look at the difference we can make in our communities, and benefit ourselves in the process.
Kilian Jungen is a student at Stelly’s Secondary School.
