YOUTH ADVOCACY
Globally young people make up the fastest growing age category in the world.
It is estimated that as many as one in four have experienced the effects of conflict. Although they make up the largest age group in many conflict-affected regions and often bear the harshest and most lasting impacts of war, their voices are frequently ignored, and they remain largely absent from decision-making processes.
Youth-led Campaigns
Similar Ground has developed its own approach to empower young people to speak out and advocate for change.
In 2022, we committed to creating space for young people in refugee settings to raise their concerns and take action in safe and meaningful ways. Together with War Child, we co-created and adapted the VoiceMore approach to suit our local context focusing on creativity, inclusion, and youth leadership.
One of our core methods is Music for Social Change, a powerful tool that allows young people to express their experiences, raise awareness, and inspire action through music, art, and storytelling. This approach has been especially impactful in the BidiBidi Refugee Settlement, where young people are using their voices not just to highlight issues but to actively shape solutions.
Discover the inspiring actions youth have taken through Similar Ground’s campaigns and creative advocacy
Global youth representation
We are committed to supporting young people to share their perspectives, ideas, and solutions directly to those with decision-making power.
We regularly support young people from our VoiceMore group and other youth programmes to consult with decision-makers, present at events and collaborate with us in our campaigns. Young people have spoken at international summits, led sessions at high-level conferences and conducted and presented their own research.
Every day, young people in refugee and conflict-affected settings are already taking action to improve their own lives and those of others. They are actively engaged in their communities, bringing energy, creativity, and local solutions that can drive lasting change and peace. At Similar Ground, we believe these efforts must be recognized, celebrated, and supported—because they represent the strongest foundation for building a better future.
We believe young people should lead their own advocacy and that their voices should not only be heard, but genuinely valued in decision-making spaces. No one understands what it means to grow up affected by conflict better than they do and they deserve to be involved in shaping the responses that impact their lives. That’s why Similar Ground is committed to youth-led advocacy and ensuring meaningful youth participation at every level of our work