Young people today face overlapping pressures, from the climate crisis to widening political divides, yet they are still too often asked to participate in shaping the future without being given a genuine role in steering it. Being present is not the same as having the power to shape decisions. When young people are asked to contribute their views but given no real way to influence what happens next, participation becomes a show rather than genuine collaboration.
The European Union’s Youth Strategy commits to “Engage, Connect, and Empower” young people. It is an ambitious framework, but one increasingly at odds with how participation is experienced across Europe and beyond. Many young people are encouraged to contribute enthusiastically, only to discover that their views rarely make a discernible difference to the outcome. This is not about expecting young people to assume the role of policymakers. It is about recognising that participation without influence is not participation at all.
This tension was evident at our recent event in Europe House in Dublin, where young people from Ireland and Tanzania came together to discuss climate action, democratic engagement and the future of EU cooperation. Despite their very different backgrounds, they described strikingly similar experiences: their ideas are welcomed yet rarely woven into the decisions that directly affect their lives.
Young Tanzanians spoke about leading substantial community‑level climate work through the ARDHI Tanga programme: restoring degraded land, promoting cleaner cooking practices and helping older generations adapt to new practices. These efforts make a real difference in their communities. But when it comes to shaping policies that impact their futures, they might be invited to speak or represent their peers, but too often they’re not given the chance to truly shape decisions.
Irish participants described opportunities that look participatory but lack clarity of purpose. As one contributor noted, when participation feels tokenistic, young people switch off. And when they are consulted without any explanation of how their input will guide decisions, empowerment quickly becomes performance.
World Vision Ireland has been on this journey for years, learning to step back so young people can step forward. At the most recent Nutrition for Growth summit, we convened a roundtable with two child advocates, Sunischita from Nepal and Williams from Sierra Leone, who addressed ministers and senior officials directly. They weren’t there as a formality, but as central voices whose real-life experiences changed the direction of the discussion.
We brought the same posture to global climate spaces. At COP, Lynthia from the Solomon Islands spoke about how rising seas and destroyed schools have changed her life and the lives of children like her. Hearing her story made the risks and the need for action real in a way that no policy brief could.
These moments are important because they reveal a bigger issue. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says clearly that children’s views should carry real weight. The principle is sound; the practice is patchy. What’s lacking isn’t enthusiasm, it’s having reliable ways for young people to help set priorities before decisions are made, along with the discipline to ‘close the loop’ afterwards. It’s simple to ask for input, but accountability is harder: explaining what changed, what did not, and why.
This feedback loop is essential. Not every suggestion will become policy, and compromises are inevitable. But silence is corrosive. Respect isn’t about agreeing with every viewpoint, but about being clear and accountable in your response.
We also need to be honest about the room itself. Hierarchy and titles can silence the perspectives we most need. The more senior the table, the stronger the pull of protocol. If we want honest conversations, we should be willing to renounce status and recognise that expertise comes from lived experience, not just official roles. Our events increasingly use this approach: decision makers listen first; young people set the agenda. This is how the recent event at Europe House was shaped: young people led, and elected representatives, including MEPs, sat in the front row and listened. Their presence mattered, but their silence mattered more. It signalled a shift: creating spaces where authority gives way, allowing young people to speak openly and confidently.
So, what do we think it would take for Europe to keep its promise to “engage, connect and empower”?
First, participation should be built into how decisions get made, not treated as a one-off. Create regular forums where young people’s opinions count, beginning with Ireland’s 2026 EU Council Presidency as a chance to show what lasting change looks like.
Second, fund capacity, not just attendance: resource youth‑led initiatives – from climate justice groups in Ireland to regreening teams in Tanga – and provide the preparation, coaching and safeguarding that allow advocates to contribute securely and confidently.
Third, build accountability into every process. After consultations, share short feedback notes: what was heard, what will change, what won’t, and why. A small habit that has an outsized effect on trust.
Fourth, widen who gets invited. Participation spaces often reproduce existing inequalities, so proactively include those rarely asked; those from rural areas, lower-income backgrounds or those disengaging from civic life.
Where does World Vision fit in? Our job is not to speak for young people but to make space for them and to defend that space when it is squeezed. At summits like Nutrition for Growth, COP, and in both national and EU-level discussions, we ensure that young advocates arrive prepared, supported, and positioned to be heard, and that decision-makers pause, listen, and engage with what they hear.
We urge institutions to do the same: create opportunities, share real influence, and follow through on commitments. Young people are already leading in Ireland and across the global South. Now, it’s time for adults to step up in response. Europe’s promise will be realised not by expanding panels, but by the intentional act of listening and then acting on the insight offered.