The COVID-19 pandemic is leaving a deep socio-economic impact on young people. Nevertheless, young people are among the most active responders: not only as frontline health workers, but as researchers, activists, communicators and innovators lifting up their communities.
Despite their contributions, young people are often neglected in the decision-making process. Youth deserve to actively participate in solutions for the issues they’re facing— from education and future job opportunities to health and wellbeing. Decision-makers must not think of young people only as voices to hear, but as leaders to follow.
At the Ashoka Changemaker Summit, we brought together leading young changemakers from the UK, Spain, Brazil, and the US to learn what it means to lead social change. Here’s what they told us.
Community is more powerful than COVID-19
Amid social isolation, Amaya — a Spanish Community Builder — looked at how she could bring people together to support one another. As a student and activist, she noticed peers needed support to prepare for their university entrance exams, which they would normally receive in a physical school environment. She decided to develop a platform, “Yo Te Ayudo Con La Sele” to leverage the power of the community to provide testing tips.