Why investing in young people has never been more important

Young people are creating meaningful change

Young people are creating meaningful change Image: Unsplash/Suad Kamardeen

Natalie Pierce
Head of Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum
This article is part of: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
  • Young leaders worldwide are pioneering new ways to tackle urgent crises from climate change to inequality.
  • The World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Impact Report calls on businesses, governments and organizations to back young changemakers.
  • This article first appeared in IDN Times, read it here.

With half the world’s population under 30, young people hold the key to our shared future. The good news is they are driven by optimism and resilience despite unprecedented economic, social and environmental challenges.

That is why businesses, governments, and organizations should invest far more in the younger generation’s creativity and talent.

By empowering the voices of those who will inherit this world, we can unlock systemic change to solve the most pressing crises of our time.

Young people are uniquely placed to act as changemakers in tackling crises such as the climate emergency, rising inequality, conflicts and challenges surrounding adopting new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

This is not wishful thinking. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Shapers Impact Report sets out exactly how hundreds of youth-led projects are creating meaningful change, locally and globally. At the same time, the report provides insights into the attitudes of young leaders worldwide and demonstrates how their fresh perspectives equip them as architects of our shared future.

In contrast to harmful stereotypes that portray young people as disengaged and uninterested in political debate, the report’s survey across more than 140 countries of 4,000 young leaders aged 18 to 30 shows they firmly believe they can change the world for the better.

Humanity today has the largest youth population in history – so it is good to know that 83% of them view the world as full of opportunities and 74% feel empowered to act on the issues they care about.

In addition, 68% of young people aspire to greater leadership roles and 50% believe they can influence decision-making.

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This does not mean they view the world through rose-tinted glasses. They are acutely aware of the persistent challenges stacking up around them, with a lack of economic opportunities viewed as the top problem in their communities, alongside environmental crises and government inaction.

Globally, climate change is the foremost concern, followed by armed conflict, involuntary migration and lack of basic welfare.

The economic headwinds facing the young present an especially thorny problem. Although global unemployment among those under 30 has fallen to a 15-year low of 13% and could decline further to 12.8% in 2025, this masks many troubling realities.

Inadequate education and training mean that opportunities to access decent jobs remain limited, particularly in lower-income countries where just 20% of young people are in regular paid employment against 80% in wealthier nations.

Furthermore, two-thirds of young workers in developing economies are in positions that do not match their skills, leading to frustration and alienation.

But despite such obstacles, young leaders belonging to the Global Shapers Community are delivering grassroots change in their communities around the world, from rebalancing political power between generations to harnessing technology to provide solutions for disadvantaged groups.

In Nepal, for example, the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub is upending traditional power structures and advocating for transparent governance by running for office themselves. They are also creating a political leadership accelerator to prepare their peers for political participation.

It is essential to engage young people on the issues they care about most.

—Natalie Pierce, Head of Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum

Natalie Pierce, Head of Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum

This has resulted in a nationwide surge in young people’s engagement in politics and the election of several young mayors. Such initiatives are badly needed worldwide, given the woeful representation of young voices in the democratic process, with only 2.8% of parliamentarians globally aged 30 or under.

In another case of creative problem-solving, young people in the Netherlands are using technology to take the lead on accessible pedestrian infrastructure.

The Global Shapers Amsterdam Hub is developing a navigation app that flags real-time obstacles, such as elevated walkways and street furniture, to help the country’s nearly 2 million people with physical disabilities.

The app will not only help individuals but also generate a robust dataset to influence city planners. The project shines a light on how young people are ready and able to use technology in innovative ways to solve problems.

Since its inception in 2011, the Global Shapers Community has engaged with more than 30,000 young leaders in over 500 cities.

Together, they have delivered more than 3,000 local projects that have directly improved the lives of over 2 million people by increasing access to education, employment, housing and healthcare while also pioneering environmental action and inclusion.

Importantly, these youth-led projects are not working in isolation. Collaboration is key. An analysis of the report shows that 23% of young changemakers actively engage with civil society, 15% with the private sector and 12% with academia and government.

To amplify young people’s impact and truly empower them to build a more inclusive and sustainable world in the future, organizations, businesses and governments need to leverage such collaboration by investing in young leaders and supporting their work in five key areas.

First, it is essential to engage young people on the issues they care about most. By involving them in initiatives that align with their priorities, institutions can create opportunities to harness their unique skills.

Second, youth-led action requires sustained funding and resources to thrive. Organizations must prioritize financial support for young changemakers, coupled with reciprocal mentorship opportunities.

In addition, young people must have a seat at the table in decision-making processes by creating inclusive spaces where young experts can contribute to policy and strategy.

Another critical area of focus is equipping young leaders with the tools to exert influence. Providing training in advocacy, systems change and other vital skills allows young people to scale their efforts and broaden the impact of their initiatives.

Finally, it is imperative to recognize young people as essential contributors to progress. Their insights and solutions are crucial in shaping policies and practices that affect their lives and communities.

By making these five commitments, leading stakeholders – from CEOs to government ministers – can help unite generations and empower young people to create inclusive solutions that will ensure a more equitable and sustainable world for years to come.

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