Search Results (79)

Youth leadership plays an important role in addressing social challenges within environments with limited resources and institutional constraints. However, there is still a paucity of research that has examined how leadership develops in practice while facing such circumstances. In response, this study explores how participation in the Youth Citizens Action Programme (YCAP) in South African schools contributes to the development of leadership for social justice among young people, adopting a micro-macro lens. A qualitative, exploratory, and contextual design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with nine purposively selected YCAP alumni. The results show that youth leadership for social justice emerges through young people’s responses to macro-level institutional inequalities as they must identify and address local social justice challenges. As a result, they develop a leadership identity at the micro level and the application of leadership skills as a micro-bridge. Furthermore, enabling and restricting macro-level conditions determine the extent to which youth leadership can be sustained. The results advance the idea that organised programmes such as YCAP may support meaningful youth participation and provide insight into how such initiatives can enable young people to address social justice challenges as leaders within their communities. Full article

Building healthy communities requires organizational arrangements that center on resident and community assets while using data to guide decisions. This study examines how the Evidence2Success framework was implemented in three communities, Kearns, UT, Mobile, AL, and Memphis, TN, to understand how citizen-led asset mapping, coalition processes, and funding strategies shape youth well-being efforts. Using an interpretive case-study design, we analyzed process-evaluation interviews, implementation milestones and benchmarks, strengths-and-concerns reports, and community case materials to trace how coalitions mobilized assets, reoriented institutional resources, and adapted evidence-based programs. The results show that broad, cross-sector Community Boards completed most implementation tasks, increased participation by people of color, and developed more inclusive decision-making structures that addressed historical inequities. Coalitions also strengthened data-use capacities, employing youth survey results and local qualitative input to select priorities, braid funding, and make culturally responsive adaptations while maintaining program fidelity. Overall, the findings suggest that when evidence-based planning frameworks are embedded within asset-based, resident-governed structures, communities can build sustainable organizational arrangements that support youth well-being and advance more equitable local systems. Full article

Growing inequalities and illness among citizens call for innovative methods for developing resilient societies. This paper highlights the importance of urban design, which includes aspects of interactive communities, using participatory approaches such as co-design early in the process. To exemplify the method of co-design, this paper uses one case study from northern Sweden with two growing local initiatives, one focused on common cultivation, and another connected to youth activities for sustainability and recycling. Using design methods such as braindrawing and the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How [WWWWH] enables people to stay in the conceptual stages, develop it and understand it further. Ideas that emerge from local initiatives can expand beyond the group itself, fostering more interactions and places for people to gather. Supporting these projects can significantly impact local communities by improving social and cultural sustainability, making it essential to promote community-led initiatives in urban design to enhance human wellbeing. The findings show the importance of embedding relational infrastructuring participatory approaches early in the process for designers and planners to identify local drivers for change that is aligned with community values, as well as fostering wellbeing through meaningful long-term involvement. Design can serve as an enabling practice contributing to ecological, social, and cultural sustainability. Full article

Plastic pollution constitutes a critical planetary health challenge, undermining the integrity of Earth systems while generating cascading harms to human health, livelihoods, and social equity particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Conventional top-down regulatory and technological responses have proven insufficient to address the complexity of plastic pollution, often excluding those most affected from decision-making and solution design. This paper examines how democratizing plastic governance through grassroots leadership can advance planetary health by simultaneously protecting ecosystems, improving human well-being, and strengthening socio-ecological resilience. Drawing on empirical evidence from the #RestorationX10000 initiative led by Community Action Against Plastic Waste (CAPws), this paper documents implementation processes and outcomes achieved between 2021 and 2025 across 71 impacted communities in 21 countries spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The initiative was designed to empower 10,000 youths and women as community leaders, practitioners, and advocates by equipping them with leadership, technical, and policy engagement skills to drive systemic change in plastic governance and circular economy practice. Using a transdisciplinary, community-based action research approach aligned with planetary health principles, the initiative integrates capacity building, citizen science, circular economy interventions (collection, sorting, repair, reuse, repurposing, and recycling), and policy advocacy. Quantitative and qualitative evidence demonstrates that grassroots-led interventions can simultaneously reduce plastic leakage, create decent green livelihoods, and strengthen environmental governance. We argue that inclusive, community-centered plastic governance is not only an environmental intervention but a planetary health strategy, offering policy-relevant insights for national plastic action plans, extended producer responsibility frameworks, and global negotiations toward a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. Full article

Background: Youth with disabilities remain among the most overlooked groups in global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) discourses, including in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, their SRHR needs are often ignored. This reflexive article aims to illuminate and recenter the experiences and perspectives of youth with disabilities living in Gulu City and Gulu District, Northern Uganda, exploring what matters to them regarding SRHR and their broader life aspirations. Methods: We adopted a qualitative, reflexive and participatory approach. Data were collected among six Ugandan young co-researchers with different disabilities (physical, visual, hearing, and albinism), who interacted with two Ugandan research assistants and a Canadian researcher involved in a larger SRHR research project. They engaged in in-person and virtual WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams exchanges over weeks, with the support of three Ugandan Sign Language interpreters. We thematically analyzed data, informed by the Intersectionality-based Policy Analysis and Structural Health Vulnerabilities and Agency frameworks. Results: Our analysis revealed four main findings: (1) the persistent feeling of social discrimination, stigma, and exclusion, including from parents, (2) inaccessible SRHR information and services, and knowledge gaps, (3) gender- and disability-based violence, and (4) youth with disabilities’ aspirations for SRHR and in life. Conclusions: The voices of youth with disabilities in Gulu underscore the value of disability equity-focused research. They reminded us that they are intelligent, capable, and thoughtful citizens with agency whose SRHR and broader well-being must be acknowledged and respected. Their perspectives carry critical implications for SRHR programming, policy, and research. Full article

The Erasmus+ YOU4BLUE project represents an interdisciplinary educational initiative aimed at fostering a youth culture of sustainability through hands-on learning, scientific literacy, and critical thinking focused on the marine environment. The project aimed to encourage lasting behavioural change and empower young people to act. It engaged secondary school students aged 14 to 18 on three Mediterranean islands (Sardinia, Crete, and Mallorca) through a blended Place-Based Education (PBE) model that integrates online learning with local, experiential activities. Forty-nine students completed a pre-assessment questionnaire measuring baseline marine ecosystem knowledge, sustainability-related behaviours, and attitudes toward the sea. Following three international exchanges involving the learning activities, roughly the same cohort of students completed post-activity surveys assessing self-perceived knowledge gains and intercultural interaction. Qualitative data from emotional mapping, field observations, and group reflections complemented the quantitative analysis. The results indicate substantial self-perceived increases in students’ understanding of marine ecosystems (+1.0 to +1.7 points on a 5-point scale), enhanced collaboration with international peers, and strengthened environmental awareness. Across all three sites, students applied their learning by co-designing proposals addressing local coastal challenges, demonstrating emerging civic responsibility and the ability to integrate scientific observations into real-world problem solving. These findings suggest that combining place-based education, citizen science, and participatory methods can effectively support the development of sustainability competences among youth in coastal contexts. This study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on education for sustainable development and highlights the value of blended, experiential, and intercultural approaches in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour. Full article

The green economy has become an economic necessity and a cultural discourse due to the rapid global movement towards sustainability. This paper discusses the representation of green economy in Qatar and Malaysia, two countries with different political and cultural background but similar ambitions to attain sustainable development on social media. Through the application of qualitative techniques, namely thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis, the re-search analyzed Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn posts discussing sustainability, renewable energy, and green innovation by using hashtags and stories on the topic. The results indicate that four major themes exist in both settings, and they are sustainability as national pride and identity, corporate–government branding of green efforts, grassroot and citizen involvement, and conflicts around contradictions and skepticism. Green economy in Qatar is constructed as a symbol of prestige and international presence, which is directly connected to the Qatar National Vision 2030, and popularized at the state and corporate levels. Big projects, financial solutions like green bonds, and sustainable infrastructure are mentioned in narratives and criticism is afforded little space. The environmental sustainability is part of cultural representation and collective accountability, grassroots mobilization, youth activism, and defiance of official and corporate language in Malaysia. A dynamic and critical digital discourse is often criticized by the citizens when they face perceived greenwashing. The research adds to the theoretical knowledge of understanding of framing theory that civic space plays a role in the development of sustainability discourses and the importance of critical discourse analysis in studying power relations in environmental discourse. In practice, the study recommends that Qatar should engage its citizens in more than just symbolic branding; Malaysia should enhance transparency and consistency of its policies to curb the skepticism of its people. In general, the paper highlights the fact that social media is not simply a medium of communication but rather a controversial field on which the definitions of sustainability are actively discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Orthorexia nervosa and appearance-related pressures are increasingly discussed in youth sport, where performance demands may amplify perfectionistic tendencies and the internalization of cultural body ideals. This study examined how sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and perfectionism relate to orthorexic tendencies among adolescent football athletes. Methods: The study included players from a soccer school, with a final sample of 83 participants. All were Polish citizens aged 16–19. A cross-sectional design was used with standardized instruments: the Polish adaptation of the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) to index symptoms of ON risk, the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (positive/negative perfectionism), and the SATAQ-3 subscales to assess sociocultural internalization/pressures and information exposure. Results: Across the entire sample (n = 73), most athletes were classified as having no risk of ON—60 people (82.2%), a smaller proportion showed an increased risk—10 people (13.7%), and symptoms of ON were found in 3 people (4.1%). In bivariate analyses, orthorexic tendencies co-occurred with perfectionism. In multivariate models, the addition of the perfectionism block provided a significant increase in explained variance over age, BMI, and sociocultural attitudes, while the SATAQ-3 block contributed only a small amount of additional variance in the presence of other predictors. Conclusions: Orthorexic risk is present but not widespread in adolescent football athletes. Perfectionistic tendencies emerge as salient psychosocial correlates of orthorexic symptoms, while sociocultural pressures appear relevant but partly overlapping and not uniquely predictive when modeled together. Full article

This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Bologna between 2022 and 2023, including anonymized interviews and participant observation, and examines the role of Islamic religious spaces in fostering civic participation and identity among second-generation Muslims in Italy. Focusing on the experience of the Islamic Community of Bologna—and particularly on the engagement of young Muslims born or raised in the city—the study addresses how mosques, often perceived as marginal or insular, can become spaces of urban integration. The analysis shows that the religiosity expressed by the youth diverges from that of the first generation and serves as a resource for building social capital and legitimising new forms of public citizenship. Particular attention is devoted to the collective experience of the Iftar street, which constitutes a moment of institutional recognition and symbolic co-construction of belonging: no longer “immigrant Muslims,” but “Muslims of Bologna.” In the absence of a national integration model, the article concludes that local dynamics can generate implicit forms of inclusion, enabling new generations to emerge as civic actors capable of redefining the boundaries of urban belonging and articulating a post-ethnic, citizen-oriented Islam. Full article

Electoral abstention is a growing phenomenon in contemporary democracies, raising concerns about the representativeness and legitimacy of elected governments, particularly in Portugal where youth participation remains low. This study explores the heterogeneity of non-voting behavior by comparing insights from voters and non-voters through online focus groups. Employing content analysis on qualitative data from 42 participants, the research identifies distinct non-voter profiles, systemic barriers, and potential pathways to increased participation. Key findings reveal heterogeneous abstainer types—including disbelieving citizens, disinterested youth, pragmatic non-voters, and protest non-voters—driven by distrust, practical obstacles, and insufficient political literacy. Despite non-voting, many express conditional willingness to participate in high-stakes scenarios or following reforms. The study concludes that addressing these barriers requires holistic measures, such as enhanced civic education, technological voting modernization, and improved political representation, to foster trust and democratic engagement. These insights offer actionable recommendations for policymakers to enhance voter turnout and strengthen democratic legitimacy. Full article

The presented findings are derived from the project #STANDFORSOMETHING, coordinated by the European Youth Card Association, funded by the European Parliament, with the aim of thoroughly investigating the perspectives and opinions of European youth regarding the European Union (EU) and its institutions—a historically under-researched cohort—despite their impact on the future policy agenda. The crucial question in this research is to understand the effect of issue salience on the dispositions of citizens towards the EU, whether positive or negative, but also to understand the impact on the development of a European identity or the perseverance of a national identity. This threefold relationship explored in the attitudes of the youth can reveal a behavioral algorithm that can explain the rhythm of European integration on a cultural and political level and its variances across different countries. This collaborative effort involved a quantitative part—a survey with 3000 young respondents from across all EU Member States—and a qualitative part. An advanced comparative data analysis brings forward a significant connection between the youth’s attitudes towards the EU, their sense of European identity, and their major issues of concern. On a cross-national analysis, the EU map is segmented into four distinct behavior patterns across specific geographical zones, underscoring the diversity and depth of youth attitude and issue profiles across Europe, resulting in a specific tool to be used by European policymakers. Full article

Background: Eco-anxiety and solastalgia are psychological responses to environmental degradation and climate change. This study examines how these concepts are represented in Spanish-language digital media, considering both emotional dimensions and the profiles of content producers. Methods: We conducted an inductive qualitative content analysis of 120 Spanish-language items (online news articles and selected posts from digital platforms) published between October 2023 and March 2024. Items were identified using a Boolean search strategy and initially filtered by LIWC to detect high emotional-and-anxiety term density; final coding followed grounded-theory procedures, resulting in four thematic categories. Results: The most frequent theme was environmental activism (41%), followed by catastrophic thinking (29%), coping strategies (25%), and loss of meaningful places (6%). Among content producers, citizen participants represented 40%, youth activists 25%, and scientists 15%. Digital media function both as sources of anxiety-inducing content and as spaces for awareness-raising and support. Conclusions: While eco-anxiety is not a clinical diagnosis, it exerts a significant psychological impact—particularly on youth and vulnerable groups. Spanish-language digital platforms play an ambivalent role, amplifying distress yet enabling resilience and collective action. Future interventions should leverage these channels to foster environmental awareness, emotional resilience, and civic engagement. Full article

The aim of this paper is to analyze how young people in Slovakia perceive individual attributes of quality of life and to highlight the positive correlation with ethical values acquired primarily through family upbringing and, significantly, through the national education system. Quality of life is understood as a multidimensional concept encompassing opportunities, fulfillment of human needs, and subjective well-being, including dimensions such as happiness and life satisfaction. These aspects are strongly influenced by ethical values, which are particularly shaped by compulsory ethics or religious education provided to children aged 6–15 within the Slovak national curriculum. To explore the link between ethically grounded education and perceived quality of life among youth, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The findings reveal significant correlations between ethical or religious education and various quality of life indicators, emphasizing the importance of ethical education in shaping socially responsible and value-oriented young citizens. This study contributes to understanding the cultural and educational context influencing youth perceptions of quality of life in Slovakia. Full article

Uniquely rooted in regenerative leadership and complemented by Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT), this conceptual essay offers a theoretical exploration of how educational institutions can act as dynamic systems that catalyze adaptive, community-led responses to anthropocentric socio-environmental crises. Rather than sustaining existing structures, educational leadership for regeneration seeks to restore ecological balance and nurture emergent capacities for long-term resilience. Positioned as key sites of influence, educational institutions are explored as engines of innovation capable of mobilizing students, educators, and communities toward collective environmental action. CLT offers a valuable lens for understanding how leadership emerges from nonlinear, adaptive processes within schools, enabling the development of innovative, collaborative, and responsive strategies required for navigating complexity and leading planetary-positive change. Drawing on a synthesis of the recent global literature, this paper begins by outlining the need to go beyond sustainability in envisioning regenerative futures, followed by an introduction to regenerative principles. It then examines the current and evolving role of educational leadership, the relevance in enabling whole-institution transformation, and how this relates to regenerative practices. The theoretical frameworks of systems thinking and CLT are introduced before noting their application within regenerative educational leadership. The final sections identify implementation challenges and offer practical recommendations, including curriculum innovation, professional development, and youth-led advocacy, before concluding with a call for education as a vehicle for cultivating planetary-conscious citizens and systemic change. This work contributes a timely and theoretically grounded model for reimagining educational leadership in an era of global turbulence. Full article

This study examines how climate citizens’ assemblies (CCAs) influence youth engagement, both in practice and in shaping perceptions of political “voice”, drawing on Albert O. Hirschman’s “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty” framework. Through qualitative analysis of 71 interviews, participatory workshops, and observational data across four cities—Barcelona, Bologna, Geneva, and Paris—it explores whether CCAs address youth climate activists’ demands, enable meaningful participation, and yield policy outcomes aligned with their claims. Findings reveal divergent perceptions: in Bologna, co-design with activists tended to foster trust, while Barcelona saw disillusionment due to unmet expectations. Geneva’s embedded deliberative processes strengthened institutional loyalty, whereas Paris faced skepticism as activists turned to civil disobedience. Overall, CCAs’ effectiveness hinges on inclusivity, follow-through, and communication; when perceived as tokenistic, they risk reinforcing disengagement (“exit”). The study underscores the need for embedded, responsive democratic innovations to sustain youth participation amid climate crises. Full article