Title: Legalize Youth Dreams (LYD)
Duration: 31 months (October 2025 – April 2028)
Location: France, Sweden, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt
Donor: European Union (Erasmus+ Programme)
Stereotypes about youth are not just harmless opinions — they shape policies, limit opportunities, and influence how young people are included (or excluded) from decision-making spaces.
Challenging these narratives is essential to building more accurate, fair, and effective systems that reflect the contributions youth are already making.
A widely held belief suggests that young people lack motivation and avoid responsibility.
Young people across communities are actively engaged in volunteering, research, community initiatives, and advocacy. Many balance education, work, and social impact efforts simultaneously.
The issue is not a lack of motivation — it is a lack of visibility.
Digital tools are often framed as barriers to productivity and meaningful engagement.
Youth are leveraging technology to:
Digital spaces have become key platforms for participation and innovation.
This assumption suggests a lack of long-term thinking or responsibility.
Young people are deeply engaged in shaping conversations around education, employment, mental health, and social justice. Their involvement in research and community work reflects a strong commitment to long-term impact.
Experience is often used as a justification for excluding youth from leadership roles.
While youth may have less traditional experience, they bring:
Leadership is not defined solely by years — but by the ability to respond effectively to change.
These stereotypes persist largely because youth contributions are underrepresented in formal spaces. When systems fail to highlight youth impact, outdated narratives continue unchallenged.
There is growing recognition that meaningful youth engagement leads to stronger outcomes. Organisations that actively include youth report more relevant programming, increased innovation, and greater long-term sustainability.
Moving beyond stereotypes requires intentional change — creating space for youth voices, recognizing their contributions, and integrating them as equal partners in development processes.
The narrative around youth is shifting — but not fast enough. The evidence is clear: young people are not waiting to be included. They are already leading, building, and transforming their communities.
The real question is whether systems are ready to catch up.
The strength of LYD lies in its diverse and committed partnership: Maison de l’Europe des Landes WIPSEE (France) – Kooperativet Fjallet (Sweden) – YoGlow for training (Egypt) – Zarzis Nouvelles Visions (Tunisia) – Jordan Youth Innovation Forum (Jordan)
