Pro for Including Youth in policy Making

Traditionally, younger individuals, particularly those not deemed adults, are excluded from sharing their ideas and perspectives on issues that not only affect adults, but youth as well. Not only is it of great value to engage younger individuals when creating policies that concern society as a whole, but it is critical to provide youth with the opportunity to voice their opinions in matters that concern them specifically.

Younger people have the potential of bringing in different outlooks on different matters, thus enriching the formation process. An inclusive policy making process is more likely to mirror the entire community’s needs, and therefore inspire people’s confidence in the result and effectiveness of the policy.

Excluding youth from contributing to the betterment of society is confounding, because by excluding any opinion or thought, policy-makers are limiting their resources. Youth have tremendous abilities and insight, yet they are generally undervalued, while their ideas remain underutilized.

By engaging in social advancement endeavors with youth, policy makers can bring about a sense of mutuality and respect, and help reduce, and eventually eliminate, stereotypes that perpetuate segregation of youth in our society.