Young people in Latvia feel most free to express their opinions within their families and among friends, while at school their opportunities to influence decisions are considerably more limited, according to the policy report “Authentic and Meaningful Youth Participation: Exploring the Views and Experiences of Young People in Latvia”, prepared by researchers at the Institute of Culture and Arts of the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) within the framework of the national research programme “Education” project “Preconditions for Authentic Youth Participation in Formal and Non-Formal Education Settings” (UNFRAMED).
Slightly more than half of the young people surveyed have tried to influence decisions at their school, but most of those who have had the opportunity to express their views believe that their opinions did not change the decisions made, the study found. LAC researchers analysed the civic participation of young people aged 13 to 25 in formal and non-formal education settings, focusing not only on whether young people have opportunities to get involved and express their views, but also on whether this involvement reflects their interests and enables them to bring about real change.
The researchers emphasise that authentic participation is based on young people’s own interests, while meaningful participation means having the opportunity to influence decisions. The study findings reveal that young people’s experiences of participation vary significantly depending on the setting, topic and form of involvement. Particular attention should be paid to schools, where young people not only acquire knowledge but also gain their first experience of expressing opinions, making decisions together and implementing change. If young people see that their views are taken into account, this can strengthen their confidence in their ability to influence processes beyond school as well.
To help educational institutions move from formally listening to young people towards meaningful engagement, the project has also developed a practical tool – a roadmap, which enables schools to assess the current situation and purposefully improve opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making.
What Does the Study Reveal?
Young people express themselves most freely outside formal participation structures. Authentic youth participation most often takes place outside the school environment and youth organisations – in informal and unconventional settings. Young people speak most freely about issues that matter to them with friends and family, as well as by expressing themselves through art or in the digital environment (social media). Organised forms – youth organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and political parties – are used much less frequently.
Young people are more actively involved in issues that are personally important to them. The greatest levels of interest and engagement are seen in issues related to education and self-development, sport and healthy lifestyles, interpersonal relationships, art and mental health. By contrast, engagement is also lower in politics and social justice issues, where young people’s interest is lower. This demonstrates that, when promoting participation, it is important to take young people’s own interests into account rather than simply offering predetermined forms of involvement.
Having the opportunity to express an opinion does not always mean having the opportunity to influence decisions. Young people rate their opportunities to express their views freely, be heard and influence processes most highly within their families and peer groups (informal settings), while these opportunities are assessed considerably more critically in educational institutions (formal settings). Only slightly more than half of the young people surveyed have tried to influence decisions at their school, and most of those who have had the opportunity to express their views believe that their opinion did not change the decision.
Participation provides an opportunity to experience real change. In the areas where young people get involved, they are generally able to achieve changes that are meaningful to them. At the same time, in several areas, particularly in terms of political participation, the proportion of young people who are involved is relatively small. This means that although participation often leads to positive outcomes, the overall number of young people who gain such experience remains limited.
Friends and family motivate young people to get involved, while insecurity and lack of time discourage participation. Youth participation is most strongly encouraged by support from people close to them, while the most common barriers are a lack of time and interest, uncertainty about their own abilities, and the feeling that particular activities are not suitable for them.
Different forms of participation complement one another. Involvement in one informal participation activity can be a positive factor encouraging formal participation, and vice versa. These findings suggest that the factors promoting participation should also be viewed more broadly. They not only highlight the need to identify participation-supporting tools suited to different segments of young people’s interests, but also show that different forms of participation can reinforce one another rather than exclude other activities.
The greater the personal commitment required for participation, the fewer young people get involved. Activities that require more time, the courage to express one’s views publicly, or involve a risk of receiving criticism are less common among young people. Young people more often choose simpler and more accessible forms of engagement, which can become a first step towards developing broader experience of participation.
Active young people feel more confident about their ability to influence what is happening. Young people who participate in school or student self-governance bodies and youth councils are more likely to say that they can express themselves freely, are listened to, and are able to bring about changes that are meaningful to them. However, their confidence in their ability to influence decisions also decreases as the level shifts from their immediate environment to the municipal, national and European Union levels.
The conclusions included in the policy report are based on data from two surveys conducted in 2025. The first involved students aged 13 to 25 from general and vocational secondary education institutions and higher education institutions across Latvia (1,071 respondents in total). Infographics presenting data from this survey are available here. The second was a targeted survey of self-governance bodies, involving 242 young people who were already actively engaged in school or student self-governance bodies, as well as municipal youth councils.
In implementing youth policy in Latvia, the Ministry of Education and Science organises several activities aimed at promoting youth participation. In conjunction with the elections to the 15th Saeima, Mock Elections were held in general secondary education institutions and vocationally oriented education institutions, giving young people an opportunity to learn about the electoral process. At the end of September, the second cycle of the National Youth Dialogue was launched, during which young people will have the opportunity to submit their proposals to decision-makers for addressing current issues. The Ministry of Education and Science also coordinates young people’s participation in European Youth Dialogue activities, which help bring issues important to young people and the necessary solutions to the European level.
The report was prepared within the framework of the project “Preconditions for Authentic Youth Participation in Formal and Non-Formal Education Settings (UNFRAMED)” (No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/6-0002) under the Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science national research programme “Education” (2023–2026). The project is administered by the Latvian Council of Science.
