GOALS OF THE GUIDE
This guidebook was developed for youth, youth development practitioners, and elected officials around the world who are seeking to counter trends of youth political disengagement by forming local youth councils: citizen advisory bodies composed of young people who engage with local political leaders in government decision-making processes.
For youth and youth practitioners, this guide outlines steps on how young people can organize themselves and leverage support from elected and administrative officials in order to formalize a mechanism to provide input on decision-making processes. For elected officials, this guide will explain the benefits of youth input and list steps to identify and recruit youth council members and create an inclusive space that empowers youth to share their perspectives. Finally, the guide provides a list of good practices and common pitfalls to avoid throughout the process of creating a youth council.
Download the guide:
Global Youth Council Guide (English)
Global Youth Council Guide (Spanish)