10th International Youth Conference

Attending the 10th International Youth Conference last Thursday opened my eyes to different generations’ viewpoints on approaching intergenerational unity. Discussions about finding a mutual language and social media usage brought me perspectives I’ve never considered before.

The discussion topic of finding a mutual language that older and younger generations can both equally understand was especially captivating. With Gen Z’s constantly changing, social media-driven slang, older generations not only are having trouble keeping up with this constantly changing language but also don’t know how to effectively communicate with us.

While a solution could be for older generations to be more attentive on social media, the pace at which our language changes is too quick for older generations to keep up. Therefore, during our discussion, we concluded that normalizing a space for mixed generations to communicate with each other about tackling current issues is a great way to normalize a common language. For starters, this could be in educational spaces where administrations and the student body work together to solve the problems they face in their communities. But beyond the classroom, it would be fantastic to see boards and councils invite the perspective of a new generation into their meetings. Invitations to board and council meetings can come from professional spaces in the working field, but also from young people meeting amongst themselves, e.g. for club meetings or student government.

Another aspect of our discussion that I enjoyed was how everyone connected their focus on advocacy and the Sustainable Development Goal they represent in their responses to the questions. This broadened my perspective on where to identify areas to consider intergenerational unity. For example, Virgil Parker explained that schools are spaces where intergenerational unity is prevalent, or Riz Khan language can be a barrier to intergenerational unity, even when trying to connect with people to provide food.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience and learned from every panelist. Leaving the discussion I now not only have a better understanding of intergenerational unity but also know how I can promote it in our future.