NextGen DIY: Democracy, Innovation, and Youth
Exploring how young people are reshaping participation and how systems can respond.
We’re often told that young people are turning away from democracy.
That’s not what we’re seeing.
Across countries, movements, and communities, young people are organizing, experimenting, and building new ways to participate. They are challenging systems that do not reflect their realities and pushing for ones that are more accountable and responsive.
NextGen DIY works with young people to test new approaches in practice, learn from what works, and help turn participation into real influence.
What This Project Does
NextGen DIY brings together youth advocates, organizers, and practitioners to understand how young people are engaging with democracy and to support new ways of participating and influencing change.
Through this work, we:
- Identify the barriers that limit young people’s participation and influence
- Learn from youth-led campaigns and movements that have achieved real outcomes
- Work with young people to test practical ways to participate and hold institutions to account
- Share lessons across countries so others can apply what works
How It Works
NextGen DIY is structured around two complementary Democracy Labs: Making Democracy Accessible and Getting into Politics. Together, they help us understand how young people engage with democracy and support them in shaping it in practice. Each Lab focuses on learning from real-world experience and turns those insights into practical tools and pathways for action.
Making Democracy Accessible Lab
This lab works directly with youth organizers in different regions to understand what prevents young people from being heard, what has helped them influence decisions, and where efforts fall short.
The lab combines research with practical experimentation. It gathers evidence through focus groups and interviews with youth advocates and learns from recent youth-led protests and campaigns. These insights will then be translated into materials that can be used by organizers and partners.
Key outputs include:
- A short video that highlights real experiences and lessons
- Visual materials that can be used online and offline
- A digital mural that brings together youth perspectives
- A short synthesis of findings that can inform future work
Getting into Politics Lab
This lab focuses on helping young people move from interest to action by understanding how political systems work and how to engage with them in practice. It provides a clear and structured way to navigate institutions, build relevant skills, and identify entry points into public life.
The lab supports young people to:
- Understand how decisions are made and who holds influence
- Build practical skills such as communication, organizing, and ethical engagement
- Identify realistic pathways into roles where they can shape decisions
It combines skill-building with real-world application and is being tested with an international team and partners. The focus is on what works in practice and how it can be used in different countries.
Why It Matters
Many young people are already shaping decisions that affect their lives, often outside formal political channels. At the same time, institutions struggle to respond to these forms of participation, creating a gap between how people engage and how decisions are made.
NextGen DIY works to close that gap by learning from these efforts and helping turn them into more effective influence on decisions.
Get Involved
Whether you are a youth organizer, practitioner, or partner, there are different ways to engage with this work.
For youth organizers and practitioners
Join the research and exchanges, share your experience, and contribute to shaping new approaches to participation. You can take part in discussions, co-create campaign content, and connect with others working on similar challenges.
For partners and funders
Work with us to support the research, enable co-creation and campaign activities, and help scale what is emerging from this work across countries. Partnerships can support community engagement, knowledge generation, and the development of practical tools that strengthen youth participation.
Resources
What’s Next? Youth Declaration
Youth Participation Strategies for Building Sustainable Democracies
Youth Recommendation to Increase Engagement in Democracy
Vision 2020 for Advancing Youth Leadership
Youth Democracy Cohort
Youth Participation Handbook
Want to be part of this work? Join the Explorers’ Network!