7/30/2019 Apathy to Empathy

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 As part of a national discussion series entitled Democracy Talks, Samara, a charitable

organization that works to reconnect citizens to politics, recently convened five groups of 

 youth in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and St. John to talk about their experiences of politics

and gather ideas for making the political system more relevant and responsive to them.

Organized in partnership with community groups across the three provinces, these

gatherings were primarily made up of newcomer, low-income and visible minority high

school and college-aged youth —groups often labelled as apathetic and disengaged when it

comes to the political process. However, early findings suggest that these young Canadians

are more attuned to politics than we might expect, engaging in ways we’re perhaps not used measuring. 

In Ontario two key themes have emerged from Samara’s early discussions. The first

reinforces much of what we already know about the disconnect between youth and the

political process and is cause for concern: young Canadians, especially newcomers and lower

-income youth, feel politicians do not represent them or understand their needs.

 As one 19-year old English-speaking Montrealer said: “I think in politics it’s like children

should be seen and not heard, and I think some people going into politics have the

intentions to make a difference, but along the way it becomes very corrupting and you get

 what you see today.”

Participants articulated a deep sense of powerlessness as individuals facing a world of 

complex problems – the environment, the education system, gentrification, violence - many 

of which they perceived to be directly related to if not exacerbated by the political

institutions meant to support them.

“I feel that there is not much really that I can do because it’s like I am not part of society,”

said one Nicaraguan- born participant. “I feel that we live in a society here where politicians

represent the residents of the country, the people that can vote, so if you cannot vote, you

don’t mean much to them.” 

However, the second theme reveals that—while they don’t see their reality reflected in the

 world of capital “P” politics—they recognize the political implications of their lived

experiences and want to contribute to a positive change. When asked what kind of opportunities they would like to see in place, one Francophone Montrealer said: “Personally,

I think more programmes should be provided for people like me; programs for youth who

 would like to participate on their free will.” [Free transl.] 

“Really, for me to be convinced,” countered another, “they should talk about the basic

 values, such as honesty and respect, and not always remain utopic. I think all these people

are utopic”. [Free transl.] 

In response to the various concerns they cited, nearly all participants were taking small

steps, in subtle yet deliberate ways, toward what they viewed as a greater societal good.

Some were using photojournalism as a means of social commentary; another was studyingcareer counselling, while others used word of mouth to talk about violence in their

community. In each case, these youth took a do-it-yourself approach to effecting change,

often despite the limited resources at their disposal. The bottom line, as put by one young

 woman, is “if it’s about us, include us.” 

To these ends, participants frequently cited their involvement with local grassroots or non-

profit organizations who provided the first point of access to change. “I think that where [the

community group] succeeds and where some politicians fail,” said one new Canadian, “is

that we’re not looking for power.”

 While non-profits are critically positioned to support and mobilize citizens to influence

government policy, the overwhelming sense of alienation individual youth feel from

government and politics remains a problem with grave implications for the future of the country.

Solutions from youth

To begin unpacking this multi-layered issue, Democracy Talks asks young people, among

others, to share their insights on where things could be improved, and who should be

involved in the process. While naive about certain aspects of the political system, the

participants were not unreasonable in their expectations of what governments should or

could do to help them become more politically active. Their suggestions focused on:

Creating opportunities that would enable youth to learn, act and communicateeffectively as members of a group, for example through national and international

 youth exchange programs.

Politicians offering more consistent, relevant, and direct opportunities to interact in

their communities, for example, through local visits or information sessions – not

 just during election time.

Developing more practical civics education such that it’s more attuned to young

peoples’ lives. 

Cultivating honest and accessible political leaders who aren’t afraid to talk about

“real issues,” like racism, in ways that youth can understand and relate. 

 While still early days, Democracy Talks points to young Canadians’ desire to better

understand and engage with issues affecting their communities, country and world. To me,

that’s something worth celebrating, and offers a refreshing counter-narrative to the notion

that “young people today” are somehow lacking in civic conscience in ways that past

generation of youth did not. I’ve found it encouraging to hear from people who, despite

feeling decidedly detached from politics, see the solutions to their greater involvement in the

political process as not so far off. Clearer information, better education and more

meaningful communication, they noted, are a few good starting points – basic

improvements that even the over-25s might be inclined to agree with!

 All this raises important questions about the role of governments and political leaders in

helping to lift youth out of their cynicism and into political empowerment – in short,

meeting them half-way to show that their efforts to learn, engage and act will count in the

long run. It also reinforces the role of community groups in showing young people that their

concerns are political in nature, and have the potential to be resolved through existing

political channels, as imperfect as they may be

In making the case that young people’s “political potential” is vital to the country, both now 

and in the future, we’re seeking input from others in the sector on how governments,

politicians, and non-profit practitioners can best work together to revitalize politicalparticipation. We know that the insights generated in a series of two-hour discussions can

only be strengthened and scaled into meaningful programming with the feedback and

suggestions of those of you working on these issues day-to-day, and Samara invites you to

post and share your ideas below.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Project Coordinator Samara