# data[].attributes.body
Merryl + Elvis
-how does youth participation looks like?
Namibia: really bad, it is not easy to be motiviated to inform ourself about political issues
youth gave up to pressure the government (cero involvement), no response/reaction from the government --> giving up
-Ruanda:  participation more in business/economy issues
-we a´re never to young to lead, feeling the particiapation should be initated by the leadres, participating in leadership
employment as a problem --> also a reason for less trust
hard to realize the youth participation
-less empowerment from the government to take over leading roles in business/politics/economy
Kenia:
-hard translation from the youth policy to a real youth participation
-active policies that engages youth participation
-requirment: allocate youth companies
-development policies
-civil engagement: more arround the electoral process, agents to get votes for the politicans, youth maybe abused for getting the votes?
-political seats: independent parties or individuals --> no space for young people in the most dominat parties in Kenia
-hard to find as a young person high political jobs
-Uganda: national youth policiy
young people are engaged
-there exist young movements
-leadership: there is no meaningful engagement
-How we want it to look like?
-How is it building political trust?
-What do we mean by meaningful participation?
-can it be a lever? How can youth participation become a lever?
we need to be recognized, making change, are we going to be the leading to make the change? everything comes from change
we need to be the leading change, attention of the country, participation needs to be broader seen than just in political issues
-increase funds to implement youth projects

causes of little trust in political institutions:
-issues of corruption as a key answer
- Uncredible selection and electoral processes in political institutions

Conclusion:
-it could be a lever, but we need to come up with strategies and solutions of youth would be implemented --> then we would get the feeling of getting heard and taken seriously
-being the change we want --> it can be a lever but only if the participation is really meaningful
-protect the youth-led institutions and bodies, reduce corruption, track and measure (what has already be done? measuring and documenting the progress in youth participation) implementation of youth policies
-obligation of countries to empower youth, they need to focus more on youth, train them to think beyond university, to give them skills for leadership, emplowment, we need to proove that we can be trusted --> contributing to the countrie's development, not seeking trust but also showing that we're trustable as well

# data[].attributes.body
youth participation and inclusion
funding and resources
access to digital information
Digital Civic Engagement
Transparency and accountability
human rights education
advocacy for policy reforms
Safe Spaces for youth
rising ambitions
Youth Activism and CSO Partnerships
Multilateralism -->
Information sharing and collaboration
youth employment and decent work

# data[].attributes.body
1. Regain faith, because the youth is not currently included in decision making and therefore there is no support for policies.
2. Not enough interest in engagement, because there is no sustainable accessibility. And because young people are only used as tokens instead of real stakeholders.
3. Due to the lack of accountability, participation is often regarded as "futile" or as a waste of time.
4. Corruption, bureaucracy, non-transparency and the lack of youth-friendly communication makes it impossible to really engage.

# data[].attributes.body
Differences in trust in political institutions between EU and AU:
- different intensities of political corruption
- accessibility to information
- conscious political inclusion of youth
- different demographic structures
- financial support for youth activities
- cultural perception of youth
-  stability of institutions and conflict
- enthusiasm for the democratic process

# data[].attributes.body
Similarities AU-EU

General points

Old head of states
=> Decision making power
=> Young people not reflected in representation/ wishes

Unions too country focused
=> wanting to represent “the people” of Afrika & Europe but so focused on member state participation -> that limited spaces CSO & youth organisations

Lack of power AU-EU

Active youth

No feedback loop governments

=> providing input but not being shown what is being done with it

Tokenism, no meaningful youth participation

Not being taken serious

passive youth

Transparency lack

=> backroads politics!
=> word use, jargon, terminology, overview

Not being taken seriously