Youth Leadership in International Development at Queen’s
Jenna Ryan
February 2nd 2020
Some examples of youth leadership. Image Source: Anders Hellberg (Wikimedia Commons)
There is no doubt that soon enough the youth of today are going to run the world. Generation Z -those born between 1996 and 2010, make up approximately 32% of the world's population. These numbers surpass the percentage of Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and the Baby Boomers (those born between 1944 and 1964). A wave of Generation Z-ers will soon enter the workforce with many more entering into university and high school. However, the waves of activism and advocacy around the world of today’s youth prove that age isn’t what necessarily gives you the power to inspire change.
Youth Leadership is the theme for Queen’s International Affairs Association’s (QIAA) annual International Development Week initiative. International Development Week at Queen’s coincides with the one led by Global Affairs Canada. It is an initiative that aims to teach Canadians, and more specifically, Canadian youth, how they can become more involved and how they can contribute to international development. The theme of Youth Leadership strives to recognize the impacts that youth have on international development as well as empowering youth to advocate for changes in the international community.
At Queen’s, youth advocacy and leadership are omnipresent. Whether it is Engineers Without Borders boycotting the national main office due to a lack of investigation on accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination or the student-run cafe The Tea Room leading the way in sustainable and waste free business practices, Queen’s students have proven time and time again that they are leaders, advocates, and changemakers when it comes to causes they believe in.
Queen’s is also home to a variety of student run clubs and organizations that are focused on international development and social equity issues. One of these organizations is Queen’s Project on International Development (QPID), an organization that focuses on fostering a development consciousness on campus, in the local community and on a global scale as well as encouraging people to think critically about development and social justice issues.
“Our main pillars are sustainability, consciousness about development issues, education, critical thinking, and informed action. Those are our key values that we go by, also ethical and moral actions,” says Zoe Abraham, QPID’s General Director.
QPID aims to achieve these pillars through different activities on campus, such as forums; where all Queen’s students are encouraged to come out and learn about global development issues like water insecurity and sustainable investing. Other QPID initiatives include an annual youth conference and workshops about global development for Kingston public school students. The conference and workshops strive to inspire students to pursue global development in whatever future they may have.
“We’ve targeted youth through that because personally I didn’t know about global development until I came to university. It’s not really talked about in the public school systems or even the private school systems. Inspiring people to be aware of that and learn about global development is really important for the younger generation to consider,” says Abraham.
QPID also runs a five day campaign every year to raise money for the Kingston Youth Shelter and offers summer internships in The Philippines, The Gambia, Botswana, Yellowknife, and India. Students are paired with non-profit organizations that focus on a variety of development issues.
Another prominent group on campus that focuses on development issues is Oxfam, a chapter of the larger, international organization. Oxfam’s goals include fighting poverty and promoting women’s rights.
“A lot of our objectives are the same as Oxfam Canada, we have a lot of initiatives throughout the year where we raise money for different causes,” says co-chair of Oxfam Maddy Hanzlik-Meech.
Every year, Oxfam Queen’s focuses on an international issue in first semester, and a more local issue in second semester. This year they hosted a charity concert to raise money for women affected by the Yemen humanitarian crisis and will be hosting a banquet later in the semester to raise money for youth homelessness in Kingston.
Oxfam Queen’s also empowers youth to be advocates for change in the global development community by encouraging the purchase of fair-trade products at their snack bar in the JDUC and by hosting awareness presentations about a variety of issues every second week.
“It’s about educating people and giving them awareness so they can take that information and take their own initiative to make change,” says one of Oxfam’s co-presidents Madison Craig.
Youth are starting to think more and more about what the future will look like for themselves, their families, and the world. Young people bring a unique perspective to global development and advocacy because they are the ones who will be experiencing the effects of development issues for many years in the future.
When asked why it is important for youth to advocate for change in the international development community Craig said “I think it is really important for youth to take action now because we’re starting to think about our children and their children and how it is going to affect us. It is our future and I think it is important we realize if we don’t do something about many of the issues affecting our world it is going to negatively impact us in the future.”
“I also feel that youth have access to more current education and knowledge so we can understand the issues that are happening,” added Hanzlik-Meech .
Abraham thinks the importance of empowering youth to advocate for international development issues stems from the fact that if youth don’t act now, nothing will ever change.
Perhaps the most prevalent issue that has sparked waves of youth activism and demands for change is the climate emergency threatening the Earth. Craig, Abraham, and Hanzlik-Meech all mentioned climate change and its devastating effects as a catalyst for youth involvement in leadership and advocacy.
One of the most famous youth advocates in the past year has been Greta Thunberg, a 17 year old Swedish environmental activist who made headlines in 2018 after she protested outside Swedish Parliament, calling for action against climate change. Since then, Thunberg has spoken at the United Nations, met with global leaders and the pope, and encouraged millions of youth across the world to participate in climate strikes. She joins many other young people who have advocated for global change.
While many young people are becoming world renowned and praised for their activism, there are still many who cast hate and criticism of their efforts. There are people who undermine youth leadership, choosing to label young people as ignorant and uneducated about the issues they are so passionate about. A simple scroll through the comment section of Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations climate summit provides a multitude of hate comments ranging from accusing her of being nothing more than a puppet for global leaders to attacks on her appearance, Aspbergers, and OCD.
One comment with 115 likes and 35 replies of agreement states, “This is the most bizarre puppet show I’ve ever watched…”
Another just a few comments down reads “Why are “world leaders” listening to a mixed up, whining child. What the hell does she know about this subject? Her parents should be ashamed of themselves.”
“I think there is a stigma that you can only make change once you’ve had 25 years of experience and you have all these connections,” says Abraham. “We’re being hit with “no you can’t do that, no you don’t have enough experience, no you don’t know what you’re talking about.” I think that attitude from global leaders and older adults is a barrier that youth face.”
Abraham also added that overcoming that barrier comes from having confidence in yourself. She thinks if you are really passionate about an issue then you should take the initiative to advocate for change. You can never be hurt from trying, and action is necessary in order to create change.
Hanzlik-Meech references Greta Thunberg and the criticism she has garnered online, specifically referring to those who comment on her age and question how qualified she is to speak on the issue of climate change. “I feel like it is hard for people to make older politicians and leaders listen to them and acknowledge that younger people may know more about the issues.”
Both Hanzlik-Meech and Craig think that not enough people are taking youth advocacy and leadership as seriously as they should be. They believe it is a big problem that politicians are not listening to young people trying to enact change. According to Craig “It’s all good to listen and everything, but it really is all about taking initiative and making that change. You see politicians making promises, but when the time comes you realize they aren’t serious about implementing change. So even if they’re listening, they’re not doing much about it.”
Youth bring unique skills and experiences that can help them advocate for positive and sustainable change. In a few years, Generation Z will be in charge and they will have to figure out a sustainable and holistic approach to international development issues. Youth leadership is valid and important and youth leaders deserve a place at the table.
Whether it is getting involved with a development club on campus, supporting a socially responsible business, attending a climate strike, or taking your own initiative to advocate for an issue you are passionate about, youth have the power to enact, inspire, and lobby for change. There is no doubt that soon enough, youth are going to rule the world as leaders, educators, and change makers.