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Angela S. Bushati
young people as leaders in efforts to improve quality of life”. Moreover, the authors elabo-
rate how their study shows how community organising groups are effective and how they
produce impacts on multiple levels: youth and community development make an impact
on the social aspect by producing change and it is all interwoven in a unified way (Chris-
tens & Dolan, 2011: 528-530). Engaging youth in civil society matters not only should
be a priority in terms of youth policies but it should start first of all within the embryo of
the family where adults and young people exchange their opinions. On another level,
schools catalyse social change as well as institutions and therefore a major mentality shift
towards youth participation is necessary in order to fulfill the needs of the 21
st
century
which involves building creative new solutions for communities all together, especially by
including young people in decision making.
Discussion
The right to participation constitutes the basis for healthy democratic societies, where ev-
eryone is able to contribute with ideas and collectively build better solutions for our envi-
ronments. It is important to understand that children are not born with participation skills,
but they will learn it through a gradual and systemic system which evolves through the
process of socializing. Shier (2009: 35) notes that the individual acquires the capacity to
participate in early years and particularly referring to contexts such as family and school.
The author writes that “as adults, we must facilitate conditions so that these capacities
and competences are developed: self-expression, opinion, communication, access to
information and knowledge, decision-making. Thus participation is an educational pro-
cess.” Therefore, promoting awareness and information towards children’s rights as well
as youth rights is a key factor that helps in the implementation process of children’s rights
but also of human rights in general.
In addition, it is important to understand that the hearing of children and youth voices is
beneficial for their wellbeing and has positive consequences for later years. The voices of
young people should be heard, and this has to happen in a dynamic process of dialogue
and exchange between both the actors. Hearing young people’s voices and respecting
what they have to say contribute to the increasing of their agency, as well as encourage
them to be active citizens. In this process, young people socialise and learn the essentials
of decision making, which are such an essential component for a well-functioning society.
Moreover, “the well-being of youth who do not participate in organised activities is reliably
less positive compared to youth who do participate” (Mahoney et al. 2002:3).
Although often treated with superficiality and as an underestimated subject, the right to
participation is one of the most important rights that guide all other human rights. Without
