Snapshot: Key Findings and Highlights

After months of research, writing, and teamwork, we are pleased to announce we have published our final State of Global Youth Report. Released at the “Exploring the Next Generation of Global Security Challenges” event at Georgetown University, the SOGY report was well received by an audience of foreign policy officials, global scholars, and engaged citizens.

The State of the Global Youth Report is an ambitious effort that delves deep into the hearts and minds of young people worldwide. Through this report, we seek to find answers to crucial questions like:

• What values are driving youth, and what issues do they care about?
• What skills do youth need to succeed, and where and how are they gaining them?
• What opportunities do youth seek to actively participate in shaping a better future?

Our study traverses key domains from leadership to political agency, social change, education, mental health, and well being. By blending data-driven insights and real-life stories, it reveals how today’s youth navigate complex global issues, civic engagement, and their quest for personal and career development.

This report is more than just a collection of data. It speaks the narrative of a generation deeply committed to societal change, grappling with the mental health crisis, and striving for educational and professional fulfillment in a rapidly changing world.

The strength of our report comes from the people involved. This endeavor was fully youth-led and youth centered. Our student research team spoke with over 500 youth aged 15 to 24, via surveys, interviews and focus groups. Youth researchers were on the ground in the United States, Pakistan, Mongolia, Morocco, Syria, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Our report was diverse and robust in large part due to our dedicated youth alumni leaders. We would like to highlight some of the key findings from our survey, interviews, and focus groups.

Key Findings: (scroll down for download)

“What issues do you care about the most?”

• Human Rights: 65% respondents
• Climate Change: 57% respondents
• Education: 52% respondents
• Gender Equality: 45% respondents
• Children and Youth: 41% respondents

Among survey results, we found that youth are passionate about many issues in the world but in particular, human rights and climate change. Many respondents cited wishing for a better future has encouraged them to work towards such a world that people are living safely and sustainably.

“What values do you prioritize?”

• Respect: 94% respondents
• Responsibility: 59% respondents
• Trustworthiness: 47% respondents
• Self-Respect: 44% respondents
• Leadership: 43% respondents
• Knowledge: 40% respondents
• Justice: 38% respondents

Across our respondent groups, the top value youth connected with was respect. We found that really interesting in today’s climate, as both a way of working, but also in terms of how we engage around our planet, those impacted by global challenges, and more. Respect is extremely important and coveted in today’s climate and serves as an interesting point of analysis as to how you will respect the world, themselves, and the future they seek.

“Do you feel youth are involved in decision making around issues they care about?”

• On a scale of 1-5, the global average was 2.29 which means that respondents felt on average that they were “somewhat” involved.

“Is youth involvement sufficient”

• On a scale of 1-5, the global average was 2.08 which means that respondents felt that involvement was “not” sufficient”

Youth seek power in decision making and the space to voice their opinions. From political conflict to an information gap, youth often feel that opportunities are not tailored towards younger demographics nor are they impactful in the broader community. Opportunities for youth in school organizations and youth-based groups often lack meaningful influence on policy making.

“How are you engaging around issues you care about?”

• Government Meetings
• Contacting Leaders
• Student Clubs
• Reading the News
• Discussing with Family and Friends

Students have participated in the past via voting and school endeavors. While there are opportunities for youth in school organizations and youth-based groups, they lack meaningful positions of leadership in policy making. Youth seek power in decision making and the space to voice their opinions.

Reflection

The above key findings are just a brief snapshot at the larger report that looks at youth priorities, how youth are involved and not involved, how they may be engaged, what they need, and how they perceive the future. Moreover, our report includes country specific snapshots from tailored focus groups in Africa to regional interviews in the Middle East.

We invite you to read and engage with this report. Whether you’re a policymaker looking to shape youth-focused policies, a young leader eager to do more, a parent seeking to understand the changing dynamics of today’s youth, or simply someone interested in the future of our global community, the State of the Global Youth Report is here as a resource to inform, inspire, and mobilize.

As we look into the future both for AMP and our next State of Global Youth report we are excited to use this research as a foundation for the work to come. Similarly, we asked survey respondents to describe the future in one word. Some were optimistic, others were skeptical. This mixed sentiment is reminiscent of the data we dealt with as our world is complex and diverse. Check out below how global youth see the future and perhaps think to yourself how you feel about the world ahead and how you may interact with it, hopefully with AMP being a support system in that journey!

Download the Report Highlights Here.

Download the Report Full Findings Here.