Active citizens
Desired outcome
Young people are active citizens who make a positive contribution to society as informed, responsible and engaged members of their communities.
Introduction
Patterns of political participation and community engagement established in early adulthood frequently form the basis for civic behaviours in later life. Active civic engagement enhances the democratic process, increases young people’s representation in their communities, and assists the government to develop appropriate policies and services for this age group.
Young people who consider themselves to be citizens of their schools, communities and wider political environments and who contribute to decision-making in these different settings are likely to feel a sense of allegiance or belonging to these institutions. Youth who feel that decision-makers deem their views to be irrelevant or that there is no point in becoming involved in decision-making processes are at much greater risk of feeling alienated or socially excluded.
Citizenship involves both rights and responsibilities. An important aspect of being a good citizen involves behaving well towards others, living within societal laws and taking responsibly for one’s actions. Young people gain from being encouraged to “give back” to their communities, through activities such as volunteering. These activities help young people to build self-esteem, confidence and skills, as well as fostering a sense of social connectedness. Participation in activities such as volunteering also help to promote positive perceptions of young people by others in the community.
Indicators
There are five indicators in this section of the report, each of which highlights different aspects of citizenship.
The first indicator, beliefs about government responsiveness, measures young people’s views about and attitudes towards traditional political institutions. Beliefs about their ability to influence political decision-making may affect young people’s willingness to engage in political processes.
The second indicator, youth volunteering, highlights the positive contribution that young people make as active participants in their communities. Note that this indicator measures engagement in formal volunteering through an organisation or marae and excludes any informal voluntary activity that young people may undertake on their own. Voluntary activities that are one off, ad hoc or engaged in on a seasonal basis may not be captured by this indicator, which focuses activities carried out over a four week period only.
The third and fourth indicators measure the extent to which young people abide by societal laws. Two metrics are used: Police apprehensions, and cases proved in court/convictions.
The final indicator is voter enrolment rates, which provides a more direct measure of political engagement.
Use the links on the left to explore the indicators in this domain.
