YEA often described the project as ‘youth led’, Christina would describe it as a partnership between young people and adults where power is openly negotiated and shared in different measures at different times.
Conclusion
In theorising about youth participation, it can be easy to forget that the people interacting with the projects are humans who affect and are affected by each other and by the work in multiple and complex ways. These three stories tell about very different and yet intertwined experiences with a youth participation project. We make no claims that our stories are representative of experiences in participation projects generally, or indeed of experiences with YEA specifically. Rather we believe that starting with our experience can be a useful entry point to thinking about youth participation and, in particular, the importance of relationships and positive spaces that support young people in participation projects.
Notes
1Certain sections and details have been removed for ethical reasons.
2The action research group looking at gender equality published a children’s storybook called Alex and Charlie challenging gender stereotypes. For more information, see https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/learning-publications/alex-charlie?documentId=11922&categoryId=20264
3 http://triumph.sphsu.gla.ac.uk/young-people
4An abbreviation for ‘relationships, sexual health, parenting’ education.
5The name Sue is a pseudonym and this snapshot has been discussed with both young women concerned.
References
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James, A. and Prout, A. (1997) Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary Issues in the Sociology of Childhood, London: Routledge.
Le Borgne, C. (2017) Implementing Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making: The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations, Centre for Research on Children and Families Briefing 87, Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh. Available from: https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/21025
Le Borgne, C. and Tisdall, E.K.M. (2017) ‘Children’s participation: questioning competence and competencies?’, Social Inclusion, 5(3): 122–30.
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Frontrunners Against Inequality: the stories of Darpan and Barwaqo
Darpan Raj Gautam and Barwaqo Jama Hussein
Darpan Raj Gautam and Barwaqo Jama Hussein participated in the project Part of the Community, organised by ActionAid Denmark, a Danish non-governmental organisation (NGO). The project began in 2014 as a collaboration between ActionAid and a youth club (Kantorparken’s Youth Club) in the neighbourhood of Bispebjerg, Copenhagen. The aim was to establish a forum for young people in the club to help them gain influence and democratic experiences. Since then, working in collaboration with local agents, Action Aid has launched various kinds of youth communities in five neighbourhoods of Greater Copenhagen. The project also included a series of public events dedicated to themes of inequality and activities such as participation in the annual People’s Meeting in Denmark (a four-day political event on the island of Bornholm).
Darpan and Barwaqo’s stories are based on interviews with two researchers (Maria Bruselius-Jensen and Anne Mette W. Nielsen) centring on a journey map. As a method, journey mapping aims to create a map of the elements interview subjects find to be the most significant in a project or process they have been part of (see also Chapter 14 in this book). In this case, Darpan and Barwaqo chose different formats (a timeline and a sketch) for their maps, but both used their maps to connect their participation in the project with previous events and experiences in other arenas, as well as with their current lives. Through their maps and narrations, they tell us about their personal experiences and visions of being engaged in change processes and political activities.
Barwaqo’s participatory journey
My name is Barwaqo and I am going to talk about my experiences of being part of Tingbjerg1 Youth Community and what that has meant to me.
When society is organised in such a way that intangible factors like gender and cultural background limit you, that’s inequality. By that I mean the fact that those who gave birth to us, where we live (suburbs or countryside), and the genes we are born with are all things outside of our control. These are choices we do not make ourselves, but they contribute to putting you at a disadvantage compared with others. It’s not fair that your opportunities are limited by choices beyond your control. For me personally, my journey as a participant in Tingbjerg Youth Community has been about my hope that the next generation can live in a world where they do not suffer from inequality based on who they are, and that they will not have to face people with prejudices about them based on things beyond their control, such as their economic background, where they live, their religion, and so on. Tingbjerg Youth Community has meant a lot for this journey, so I’ve tried to show that.
Figure 4.1: Barwaqo’s map of her participatory journey
Note: Barwarqo’s journey map has, in agreement with Barwaqo, been redrawn by an artist. The colours on Barwaqo’s map did not work well in print and when given the chance, she preferred that the drawing be made by a professional.
I’ve drawn a suitcase that is open. The suitcase contains various things that represent what I have gained by being part of Tingbjerg Youth Community. I’ve included a key because it can open many doors and opportunities, which is something I think our youth community does. When we come together in larger groups of people, we can do more.
Sometimes I’ve had a feeling that I was the only one who felt like
