The rise of young voices in the fight for equality and inclusive societies

In recent years, democratic traditions that once felt stable and rock solid have been challenged. And the trend has been happening all over the world, including in Western democracies. One positive outcome has been the rise of a motivated, younger generation seeking responsible, inclusive and ethical leadership, willing and eager to step up, speak out and be counted.

One example is the Different Leaders advocacy collective, made up of young people in France aged between 18 and 35, many of whom come from low-income backgrounds. As a keen supporter of youth engagement and meaningful participation, Porticus has provided Different Leaders with structural support since 2020, working to increase the power and influence of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and bring change to the education system at both a local and national level.

A key initiative created by Different Leaders has been the marking of December 5 as an annual International Day of Equal Opportunities (#IDEO). Held across 50 cities and steadily growing since it was first established in 2015, the date was chosen because it is also the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death in 2013. It now includes events and activities promoting equality and encouraging young people to get involved in the democracy movement. You can promote or participate in #IDEO events happening in early December. Or register your project on the Different Leaders website, where you will also find other helpful resources.

According to Achraf Manar, organiser and member of Different Leaders, speaking in a recent article published in the New York Times: “Young people can play a major role in the democracy movement. We can help build campaigns for people who are suffering and help them band together into one collective group to find ways to have their voices heard… Part of the world that I’m most concerned about when it comes to democracy being threatened is Europe and the United States. These are largely democratic areas, but far-right movements are rising sharply, and there are more and more politicians being elected to power who don’t want or care about a healthy democracy.”

At Porticus, we believe meaningful participation is both a moral responsibility and a key ingredient to achieving our mission and systems change. We believe in creating a just and sustainable future where human dignity flourishes. With human dignity comes ownership and we are proud to work with Different Leaders to amplify the voice and actions of the next generation.