HAPPY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY!

Since 2010, ATO has attempted to create a youth platform wherein youth engagement in social and creative activism will create an output to realize that their work is meaningful. Here are some tips compiled on how to make meaningful youth engagement. 

Why is Youth Engagement important?

That is simple/ Youth Engagement recognizes young people's rights to participate in decisions that impact them and acknowledges great skills and strengths they put on the table. In the 2016 World Population Data Sheet, over 25% of the world population is now comprised of those individuals below 15 years old. This creates more demand for youth mobilization for social and economic progress. Where does this "mobilization" starts? Youth Organizations/Institutions. Here are some common but necessary issues for youth leaders to make their organizations effective. 
1. Create more motivation 
Most young people and adolescents  nowadays are fond of having "motivational quotes" as part of keeping them driving. For organizations, these are for leaders to treat their colleagues very close. This includes loving their work and willingness to learn, this is called "intrinsic motivation" and in order for organizations to "keep their circle" together, they must treat each other not just a group of people but like a family or a group of friends. Keeping connections very close is beneficial in attaining harmonious interpersonal relationships. 
2. Making everyone heard ​
This is an important feature of a democratic youth organization. Although, organization leaders need to be rigid "implementers" , leaders or any capable member should be able to facilitate discussions and create platforms for each and everyone to be engaged. 
3. Keep the sustainability
This is a common issue among youth organizations that after so much ideas and potential have been discussed, they suddenly go "poof!". Monitoring and task management is very important in order to "keeping aim" at your organization's goals. Don't worry, it has been an issue with the ATO before, and now, we are trying to address it. There is no need to rush things, the important thing is to focus along the process not the output. :)
4. Keeping Diversity Alive
While for leaders, it is a real challenge to maintain neutrality of views, beliefs, maintaining a friendly atmosphere wherein cultural sensitivities are considered. For ATO's case, diversity is still a catalyst that drives the organization alive. Maintaining a diverse group keeps everyone in the organization to be open-minded, creates some intercultural exchanges. 
5. Utilizing social media and other online resources
Our generation is blessed with these resources, decades ago, youth organizations needs to mail, meetings and etc. Today, one click away or one online form, we can all have a consensus in one issue. Our political and economic engagement can also be online nowadays. Let us consider these resources as gifts from the previous generation and probably. Let's not just simply "utilize" them but utilize them to create something that the next generation may be proud of.