The Power Of Youth-Activism In Creating Change

You are never too young to lead and never too small to make a difference.

[SITUATION:]

Rehaan: So… another protest flyer, huh? What is it this time, plastic, politics, or climate?

Shreya: Climate, actually. Global Youth Strike. You should come. It’s this Friday, we’re making posters tomorrow.

Rehaan: Shreya, do you really think skipping school and waving a banner is going to save the planet?

Shreya: It’s not about the banner, Rehaan. It’s about the message behind it. People notice when we speak up. Young voices echo louder than you think.

Rehaan: I don’t know. We’re just teenagers. No one’s going to change policy because a bunch of 16-year-olds marched through the streets.

Shreya: Really? You think Greta Thunberg waited till college to start speaking? Or that Boyan Slat was some scientist when he began designing ocean cleanup systems? Both were teenagers, just like us, and both believed one small voice could grow into a global movement.

Rehaan: Okay, but those are big names. Icons. We’re not them.

Shreya: They were just students once, too. Just kids with something to say. The only difference is, they said it. Loudly. Repeatedly. Fearlessly.

Rehaan: And what if no one listens?

Shreya: Then we speak louder. We post, we write, we rally, we raise questions that make people uncomfortable. That’s how change begins, not with power, but with pressure.

Rehaan: You sound like a TED Talk.

Shreya: Good. Maybe I’ll give one someday. But for now, I’ll start by showing up with my marker and cardboard.

Rehaan: Fine. I’ll help with the posters. But I’m not wearing glitter.

Shreya: Deal. But you are writing the slogan. And make it bold, the world’s watching.

 

[ESSAY:]

Let’s be honest, when most people hear the words “youth activism”, they imagine a group of loud teenagers with posters, shouting slogans in the streets. But here’s a better question: What if those loud teenagers are the reason the world moves forward? We often hear that we’re the leaders of tomorrow. But look around, we’re leading today.

It’s easy to say, “You’re just a kid, what can you really do?” But try saying that to Greta Thunberg, who, at just 15, started a global climate strike from a one-person protest. Or to Boyan Slat, who was only 16 when he designed a system to clean plastic from the ocean, a project that’s now literally pulling trash from the sea. These aren’t fairy tales. They’re facts. And they’re proof that age doesn’t measure the size of your voice or the strength of your vision. Age is just a number. But, then...

“You’re too young to understand.” “You’ll care more when you’re older.” “You don’t get how the real world works.” We’ve all heard that, haven’t we? As if caring needs a degree or making change requires grey hair. The truth is, youth see the world differently, with fresh eyes, honest questions, and, most importantly, fearless hope. We’re not afraid to challenge outdated systems. We’re not afraid to dream ridiculously big. And we definitely aren’t afraid to ask, “Why not?”

It’s not just about marches and megaphones. Youth activism today is tweets that go viral, reels that call out injustice, fundraisers started from bedroom laptops, petitions that gather millions of signatures overnight. We’re coding apps that fight food waste. We’re launching campaigns that change school policies. We’re creating art, writing poetry, and making music that stirs hearts and sparks conversations. In other words, we’re not waiting for change, we’re creating it.

But, why does youth activism matters more than ever? Because the problems we face today, climate change, inequality, education gaps, mental health stigma, these aren’t “adult-only” issues. They affect us. Right now. If we wait for others to solve them, we may wait forever. But when young people come together with purpose, passion, and persistence, even the biggest problems feel less impossible. Because youth bring something that’s rare and powerful: a refusal to give up.

We’re not here to “someday” change the world. We’re here to show that “someday” can start right now. And no, not every voice will be heard immediately. Not every petition will be signed. Not every protest will be televised. But every single act, no matter how small, is a seed. And when enough seeds are planted by enough young hands, a forest of change will grow.

So the next time someone says, “You’re just a kid,” Look them in the eye, smile, and say: “Yeah, a kid with the power to change the world.”

Thank you.