Giving Compass' Take:

• In this Aspen Institute post, Mahika Halepete, the 16-year-old founder of AYANA International, discusses the importance of empowering young leaders to create social change.

• Are we doing everything we can to engage with next-gen changemakers? Which issues might resonate the most?

• One thing to always remember: Young people know what's right for them.

For too long, a select few have made the decisions that impact all of us. Societies become peaceful and prosperous when everyone’s needs are met and their voices are heard, yet not enough emphasis is placed on giving youth a seat at the table. Across the globe, youth face barriers to participating in decision-making on the issues that affect them, such as poverty, violence, and climate change. Additionally, they are restricted from opportunities that would provide them with the skills needed to make informed decisions on those topics. Young people need the chance to discover their potential and make change in their communities so that they are prepared as leaders.

We need to stop saying “young people are our future.” That’s not true. Young people are our present, and we can’t wait until they become adults to let them start changing the world. It is so important that young people from all ages, races, genders, geographic regions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and perspectives are engaged as change agents.

If we aren’t going to be given a seat at the table, we have to build our own table. I decided to start a non-profit, AYANA International, so that I could turn my values into action and pass the torch to other young leaders like myself who want to make a positive impact in their communities.

Read the full article about next-gen leaders by Mahika Halepete at The Aspen Institute.