What I Want The Centre for Youth Voice To Achieve

Qahira, Youth Voice Ambassador

When I think about the Centre for Youth Voice, I see a platform, a community, and a movement that can shape how young people engage with decisions that affect their lives. Youth voices often go unheard, not because they lack ideas or passion, but because they are rarely given the tools, space, and credibility to lead conversations.

So, what do I want the Centre for Youth Voice to achieve?

To inspire the creation of spaces where young people are truly heard

Too often, “youth engagement” means inviting young people into rooms where decisions have already been made. The Centre can flip that dynamic. It could create spaces where young people feel safe, respected, and empowered to speak openly, knowing their voices will influence real outcomes, not just tick a box.

Build skills for lasting change

Youth voice isn’t just about speaking up, it’s about being prepared to shape solutions. I hope the Centre invests in training, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities that help facilitators and young people to lead in advocacy, leadership, and collaboration. When equipped with these skills, young people can carry their voices far beyond one meeting or event.

Influence policy and practice

The Centre could serve as a bridge between young people and decision-makers. Whether it be in schools, local councils, or government. I want to see youth-led ideas not just documented but acted upon. That means pushing for policies that reflect young people’s needs in areas like education, mental health, climate action, and employment.

Celebrate diversity of youth voices

No single young person can represent all youth. The Centre must encourage reach beyond the “usual voices” and ensure that young people from different backgrounds - rural and urban, marginalised and mainstream, visible and invisible - are included.

Create a legacy of youth power

Most importantly, I want the Centre to spark a culture where youth voice becomes the norm, not the exception. If successful, we’ll build a legacy where young people are seen not as the leaders of tomorrow, but as the leaders of today.

The Centre for Youth Voice has the potential to shift power, challenge old systems, and prove that young people are not just future stakeholders, they are current changemakers. As a CYV Ambassador, I am proud to be influencing the future of youth voice.