Actively involving young people in developing the youth center’s action plan is an important step
in fostering their sense of participation and responsibility. Children aged 7–11 are able to successfully express their interests and ideas when provided with a safe and supportive environment. One effective way to do this is through a monthly brainstorming session, during which young people can freely suggest activities and topics. Young people’s opinions matter and have a real impact on the life of the youth center.
In addition to the idea generator, it is important to gather ongoing feedback on daily activities in order to understand what resonates with young people and what needs to be changed. The youth worker’s role here is to guide the process: to help make ideas more concrete, then link them to an action plan, and involve partners as needed. Even with younger children, simple tools such as voting, drawing, or discussion circles can be used.
Everything changes very quickly in a young person’s life: what they might have liked just two weeks ago will soon have lost its appeal. To an adult, this can seem alarming, and at times even signal irresponsible behavior, but in reality, it is a natural stage in discovering one’s interests and hobbies and expressing one’s opinions. That is why, for 7- to 11-year-olds, it is particularly crucial to put the ideas suggested in the idea generator to a vote each week—for example, to choose a cooking club or a suitable movie at the cinema.
Engagement is not a one-time activity, but an ongoing process that supports young people’s self-expression and collaboration skills. When young people see that their ideas are being heard, their motivation to participate in the future grows, thereby laying the groundwork for civic engagement in adulthood.
