The Power of Community in Youth Engagement
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The EU DEAR #Eat4Change project, together with the University of Louvain, examined the factors that influence young people’s civic engagement journeys. Community and team spirit have the most positive impact, the study found. The impact of group dynamics on youth engagement is also multifaceted and culturally nuanced.
In countries like Austria and Sweden, participants often forge deep emotional connections, likening their groups to "families" and "communities." These strong bonds create a supportive environment, where motivation flourishes and action thrives. As one Austrian participant beautifully expressed, "It was not only [about] one such beautiful experience. It was also like a second family. I met such cool people."
In other contexts, such as Finland, the emphasis lies on effective task allocation - the functional, rather than the affective. As one Finnish participant noted, "[None of us] would have made any difference on our own. One [of us] had to take pictures and post them on TikTok. And one of us designed them... This was definitely a team effort." This approach shows that teamwork can be effectively harnessed even when personal bonds are less pronounced.
The study also shows how diverse community settings enhance peer skill-sharing, mutual growth and are key in building strong links. Bringing together individuals from different backgrounds and various ages creates a rich network of perspectives and skills that reinforces capabilities and youth engagement. Younger members find inspiration in their more experienced peers, who contribute with valuable life experiences. This interplay of diverse ideas and abilities elevates the potential of every activity, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts..
Regardless of the specific dynamics, the overarching message remains clear: community is a catalyst for action. It provides moral support, reigniting motivation when individual enthusiasm can be challenged. As a Swedish participant concluded: "Everyone loses motivation from time to time. [It is essential] to be surrounded by people who can bring it back and get excited for things."
The above quotes are just a few specific examples from the study. The researchers drew their conclusions from their survey of staff, trainers and young participants of 32 #Eat4Change activities across ten countries, as well as members of the global student network AIESEC.
Youth engagement activities and their content matter, but the feeling of belonging to something bigger - and the relationships between participants - is often more important, the #Eat4Change research shows.
More #Eat4Change Results and context:
In four years, #Eat4Change inspired over 100 million people in Europe and South America to make their diets more sustainable for the wellbeing of people and the planet. Young campaigners worked to persuade over 40 Members of the European Parliament - through in-person meetings- of the importance of sustainable food systems that respect planetary and social boundaries.
Through 300+ youth-led actions, #Eat4Change encouraged hundreds of companies and organisations to use more sustainable food supply chains and promote sustainable diets. They also joined the #Together4Forest campaign, which helped pass an EU law that forbids the sale of products whose manufacturing imply deforestation.
Particularly in Europe, diets are far from sustainable, with consumption of animal-based products exceeding the boundaries of sustainable or healthy consumption. Studies show that a global shift towards healthier, more sustainable diets will combat climate change, improve human health and food security, reduce biodiversity loss and save lives.
See Eat4Change LinkedIn posts, to read about more top results.
©Photo by Dániel Antalfi, EU, DEAR project Eat4Change, WWF, 2021. Caption: Eat4Change Youth Summit in Brussels
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