Have young people stopped participating? The evidence suggests otherwise: young people continue to engage in the causes that matter to them, but increasingly outside traditional participation spaces.

The ABC of Youth Participation in Colombia is a publication developed within the framework of the Youth Connection Hub, an initiative coordinated by Fundación Corona, EAFIT University’s Center for Public Value, and Fondation Botnar to strengthen opportunities, well-being, and participation among young people in Colombia.

The publication shows that the challenge is not to spark young people’s interest in participation, but rather to transform participation spaces so they become relevant, legitimate, and effective. Far from being disengaged, young people seek opportunities to contribute when they find spaces that recognize their interests, identities, and capacity to create real change.

In this publication, you will find:

• Evidence on the current state of youth participation in Colombia.

• An analysis of the motivations and barriers that shape young people’s engagement.

• The ABC Framework of Youth Participation, based on three core elements: Autonomy, Belonging, and Capacity to Influence.

• Reflections on how to create participation processes that are more relevant, accessible, and meaningful.

• Recommendations for organizations, institutions, and decision-makers working with young people.

More than a diagnosis, this document is an invitation to rethink how participation spaces are being designed and what conditions are necessary for young people to become active protagonists of social transformation.

Because the challenge is not to make young people participate more. The challenge is to build spaces where participation is genuinely worthwhile.

ABC of Youth Participation in Colombia