Background

Civic engagement involves prosocial contributions to society and is essential to a healthy democracy. While many young people work in different ways to address key social and environmental issues, there is evidence that youth civic engagement is declining. Despite this, there is a dearth of research on how to increase it, especially outside of North America.

Aims

Two studies were conducted to explore the potential to increase civic engagement in young people, and what accounts for such increases.

Method and Results

Study 1 demonstrated that a series of national, 2-day ‘young changemaker’ events (n= 178, 58 males, M age: 18) increased civic intentions compared to 2-day young filmmaker events (n = 97, 55 males, M age: 19).

Study 2 expanded on these findings to explore civic values alongside intentions, and the predictors of the positive civic outcomes for the event participants. We compared a 5-day 'young changemaker' event (n = 73, 25 males, 1 transgender person, M age: 22) to a 5-day surveying camp (n = 43, 6 females, M age: 20). Results showed that the changemaker events increased civic values compared to controls. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that generosity outcomes significantly and uniquely contributed to civic values outcomes. 

Conclusion

Together, our results suggest that young changemaker events can encourage civic values and that generosity may be particularly important in this regard. These findings will be discussed in terms of using youth-led and Māori models of practice to support positive youth development, and the links between youth wellbeing and civic engagement.