To me, the young generation of this country can bring the most change because we are the future of this country. The decisions and changes that are happening now will most affect us.
As a young 19-year-old woman in this country, I use my voice to contribute to change through activism and being on nationwide action panels. For example, I am on the Irish Traveler Movement youth forum, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the National Youth Assembly of Ireland, the Minceirs Whiden Youth Forum, and a National CERV project looking at the impact of COVID-19 on children across the country.
These groups contribute to implementing a positive difference and change in local areas and certain people. However, decisions and considerations can be transferred back to the government at the local councillor stage or to the Dáil or Seanad Éireann.
There are many other ways that the young generation can bring about change nowadays, including even primary and secondary school children being on the student council and green school committee and helping bring a positive difference to their school and local villages and towns and have more positive experiences for the future generations in their school.
As a college student, the options are endless in ways to contribute towards bringing a change in our college for ourselves, current students, and all those who are to follow us, whether it be in societies, as a class representative, volunteering, or running for a position on the student union.
Our generation can also bring such change in simple ways, whether visiting elderly neighbours, helping in your community, or being kind to those you always meet. Sometimes, the young generation can get a bad reputation among everyone else, but our generation acting with a positive attitude and lifestyle helps us as a whole in effecting change.
The biggest tips I could give our generation to bring change is to make sure your voice is heard and to participate in local politics. As young people grow to voting age and beyond, we need to use that power to spark change.
A quote I came across that I find very significant to this issue is by Kofi Annan: “Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies”.
Overall, I think our generation can make a significant difference in many ways in life and help contribute to a positive future for ourselves and the future generations that will follow us.