“It’s important that young people get heard because 10% of the time they say something rational!” says my friend. We’re joking about how generic my topic for my last article sounds, but then she says “Seriously, why do you need to write about that? Don’t you already have a voice?” I don't know whether she's right.
There are 1.8 billion people on this planet aged between 10 and 24. Yet some feel we are consistently overlooked when it comes to matters of local, national and global importance. I have first-hand experience of people assuming you don’t know what you’re talking about or worse, are a puppet for someone else. These criticisms were repeatedly hurled in the faces of Louis Braille, who at 15 created a language so that blind people like him could more actively participate in society. Or at Lily Madigan, the first teenager to be elected women’s leader of the labour party aged 19. Or Sonita Alizadeh, who continues to speak out about child marriage which she herself experienced at 16.
However, there are some reasons why society limits the involvement of young people. Scientist have suggested that our brains are still developing into our twenties, meaning we’re not “fully mature” until around age 25. In addition, young people can struggle more with impulse control. Some also discourage “figureheads” like teenagers because it takes credit away from many more, less famous supporters of the same cause, and it often leads to support of a person, rather than a cause. They may argue that young people just aren’t the best role models as they can’t know the complex issues facing the developing world.
But even in the developed world, young people’s voices aren’t heard. This isn’t entirely the fault of a big establishment, however. There is a crippling deficit of young voters. Just 43% of 18-24-year-olds voted in 2015, compared with 78% of people aged 65 or over, according to Ipsos Mori. In 2019, the gap was around 27%. Often, young people feel like their vote won’t count, or, like nearly 20% of the cohort, that they don’t know enough to be able to vote. These misconceptions are damaging. Take the 2017 election. If 78% of 18-24-year olds had voted, it could mean five to 10 seats transferring from Conservative to Labour. And, in a tight election such as 2015, when the Conservatives ended up with a majority of just 12 seats, it could make a big difference. In addition, issues such as the cost of higher education, global warming, and low paid jobs would be much higher on politician’s agenda. It’s sad, but it’s true- if we don’t leap on every opportunity available to us, change won’t happen.
Which brings me to the Young Reporter’s scheme. It is so rare that you find chances for young people to express their honest opinions in a public sphere. Yes, other competitions for journalism exist, but often only the winners are published. Here, it’s an open space for anyone. “My reasons for starting the scheme were to give students a voice. In a society where young people are often not listened to, I thought this would give them the platform to air their views on lots of different subjects,” wrote the founder of the scheme, Diana Jarvis over email. “For some [students], it has given them acceptance that they can express themselves without judgement because they are writing for people that they don’t know.” I can attest to that, as can Caitlin Kinch, 16, who said “I think the scheme is important because it gives people so many skills and confidence. It means that young people can be listened to and get their point across.” Diya Manoj, 15, also said that she “most enjoyed the freedom to write on whatever topic we feel most passionate about.”
I think that’s the main thing. Many adults don’t feel that young people are responsible, but as Ms. Jarvis said, “Initially the editor was very sceptical and thought we would be taking a huge risk but as it turned out, apart from the odd problem, students have seen the benefit and behaved in a really responsible way.” Caitlin advises taking advantage of this rare chance, saying “Nobody cares if you are good at writing or not, just be yourself and put your voice out there because there will be someone who listens.” Diya says the same, noting “It is an amazing opportunity and something that you should try even if you aren’t that confident in your writing. This scheme will most definitely help build confidence.” So, if you’re in doubt, remember Ms. Jarvis’ advice: “Everyone has something to give to this scheme and some of the best journalists are not necessarily the best writers.” And maybe note mine: This scheme has given me so many skills and opportunities, from competitions to confidence. I’ve loved being able to have my voice heard, and I’m sure you will too. Go on, and get your voice out there.
By Esther O'Neill, Newstead Wood School for Girls
