News & Stories

Liz - Transform Our World Kent

Delivering the TOW Youth Social Action programme over the previous year has demonstrated to me the value of youth-led activities, not only for the young people themselves, but also to me as a teacher. Giving children the freedom to express their own worries and concerns and talk about issues that may not fit into the neat boxes of academic school subjects, has been eye opening. Topics brought up have included immediate personal issues such as stress about online bullying on WhatsApp groups or being teased for starting your periods, to global scale issues such as war, terrorism, drugs and gangs. Some of these topics may be covered in school lessons, but in my experience, it is rare that children are able to set the agenda and lead the discussion in any way they choose. Those participating in these activities have found it both enjoyable and energizing, often commenting that they would like to do this kind of activity more often in school.

The essence of the TOW programme is to help young people see themselves as changemakers, rather than subjects having to passively accept the ills of the world. While recognizing that they will not be able to ‘fix’ everything, our challenge as facilitators has been to steer the children towards the issues that they care about the most and feel they could have an impact on, in a relatively short time. It has been a frequent response in feedback that one of the best things for participants was ‘having my ideas heard’ or ‘getting to choose what you do’ and I think this is a powerful message for educators that these opportunities should happen in the classroom more often. Helping young people explore their own values to find out what they think is important in life and then guiding them to actually take action on an issue they care about is incredibly empowering for them. All too often in schools, when children do take action to benefit the community or wider society, it is a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or teacher-directed fundraising event. The difference with youth-led social action is that children feel pride and ownership of the project, they are fully invested in its success and our hope is that it plants the seed for them to want to continue taking action in the future.

Honor - Transform Our World Essex

The Transform Our World programme provides an inclusive space where young people can voice their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment. By exploring their personal and shared values and reflecting on a wide range of local and global issues, pupils are able to see that they are not alone in their thoughts and aspirations. For me, it has been heart-warming to witness new and meaningful friendships form between pupils from different year groups, brought together by shared values and a common desire to make a difference. This environment fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens young people's determination to positively impact their schools and local communities. With complete ownership of their projects, I have seen young people grow in confidence week by week, engaging in thoughtful discussions about complex topics such as mental health and poverty. It is inspiring to see participants as young as eight demonstrating a willingness to take action on these critical matters.

The benefits of youth social action extend far beyond the individuals who participate, creating a ripple effect throughout their school and community. For schools, integrating youth social action projects enhances the educational experience by encouraging collaboration and cross-curricular learning. Pupils have opportunities to share their initiatives, such as through assemblies, to involve and inspire the wider school community. The confidence and desire to speak publicly about issues they are passionate about has been particularly powerful, highlighting the transformative impact of youth social action. Though the national curriculum covers a broad range of subjects and topics, in my experience as a teacher, it can move very quickly, leaving limited opportunities for pupils to delve deeper into key issues they really care about or feel affected by. Youth social action in schools provides dedicated time for young people to talk and listen to one other, thus making every potential project idea as strong as it can be.