By Claire Hiscott
For Tanha, it started when she learned about the inequalities affecting her transgender neighbors. Racheal listened to a young woman with cerebral palsy tell her story of being mistreated by a caregiver. Uche grieved the loss of his sister-in-law to neonatal mortality.
Each young person encountered different injustices, but all three knew the only acceptable answer was action. They aren’t alone. And while we’re seeing young changemakers working across different communities and contexts around the world, their approaches also include many similarities.
This International Youth Day, we’re exploring three trends modeled by young changemakers and the lessons they have for all of us.
Understanding Intersectionality
Changemakers in Generation Z know that there are many sides to every issue. And they not only see the connections between social issues, but design solutions that cut across them. Young people embrace the ambiguity of social change and aren’t afraid to dive in.
Meet Tanha
Tanha grew up in Bangladesh neighborhood that’s home to a large transgender community. From a young age she knew that people in the transgender community faced stigmas. She committed to learn more. Reading articles and interviewing members of the community, she quickly realized the issue went beyond stigmas — there were structural barriers to employment, building wealth, and obtaining legal protections.
Tanha created TransEnd to directly support people in the community, helping them to obtain jobs and spreading awareness to break stigmas. By learning about the intersectional issues the transgender community faces, Tanha tackled a structural barrier to make an impact in her neighborhood and beyond.
What we’ve learned: Finding the connections
Engage intersectionality by approaching problems with an open mind and by asking how problems impact different groups and contribute to inequalities. Lean into the unknowns, embrace self-education, and investigate the direct and indirect repercussions of oppressive systems.
Starting with Empathy
When we trace a social movement back to the beginning, often we find the spark that started it all was empathy. Around the world, young people exercise empathy—actively listening and seeking to understand others’ stories—to identify problems and find creative solutions in their communities.
Meet Racheal
When Racheal in Nigeria met a 24-year-old with cerebral palsy who had been maltreated by her caregiver, something shifted in her. Racheal deeply empathized with the woman’s story and quickly realized this 24-year-old was not alone in her experience. Driven through empathy, Racheal sought to provide equal opportunity by founding National Growth in Nigeria, which has has reached over 2,000 people with special needs and their care givers, empowers people with special needs and connecting them with jobs.
What we’ve learned: Cultivating empathy
Look for new and diverse experiences. (Simply reading authors from different socioeconomic, racial, or cultural groups is a great start). Don’t shy away from tough conversations. Listen and learn from those around you. Keep an open and compassionate mindset, think critically about the systems you are a part of, and the inequalities they create.
Using Technology for Good
Not only are young people the most familiar with technology, they’re constantly dreaming up entirely new ways to use it—not just in their own lives, but for the good of everyone. As we look at the ways younger generations make change—everywhere from the environment to education—tech and social media continue to play both starring and supporting roles.
Meet Uche
After Uche experienced the loss of his sister-in-law to neonatal mortality he decided to combine his knack for technology and aspirations to reduce maternal and infant mortality by starting Natal Cares, a social enterprise based in Nigeria that utilizes data, smart logistics, and tech. He created a mobile app that provides pregnant women and new mothers with important health information and reminders. The organization also developed a platform for mothers to connect share experiences and facilitates doctor referrals. Focused on serving families in rural communities and people in Internally Displaced Persons Camps, Natal Cares has helped in supporting over 11,000 safe deliveries.
What we’ve learned: Don’t devalue digital changemaking
Social media isn’t all bad. Curate your feed to include accounts that feature inspiring changemakers. Support activists, creatives, and storytellers, especially from underrepresented communities. Explore how you can use tech for good, whether it’s learning new skills or supporting apps, websites, and innovations making positive change.
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The future of changemaking
The focus of the 2020 International Youth Day is “youth engagement for global action,” highlighting how young people are contributing to institutions at every level and showing why youth representation matters. The intersectional, empathetic, and tech-driven lenses that young people are bringing to the table are already transforming how all of us think about social change and take action—and these trends are just the beginning.
