People: The Root of Change

People: The Root of Change is an essential new resource for youth political and civic participation. This volume combines a deep theoretical foundation with a practical activities’ toolkit, designed to transform how young people engage in public life.

Emerging from three years of dedicated collaboration with our partner, Steps, this guide provides a clear pathway for activists and educators to strengthen youth agency. It is structured around five core themes:

• Identity
• Civic Education
• Participation
• Civil Society
• People: The Root of Change

The first part of the volume establishes a comprehensive theoretical knowledge base for these themes. This is directly complemented by the second part: a practical toolkit featuring context-responsive and interactive exercises. These activities draw on the lived experiences of youth in the region, giving young people space to think critically, experiment with new concepts, and apply their skills in authentic, purposeful scenarios.

By equipping participants with the tools to embrace their roles as engaged citizens, this resource directly challenges the stereotype of youth as apathetic or silent. It empowers young citizens to address the root causes of problems, linking active citizenship with peacebuilding to drive meaningful participation in the public sphere. 

To support your facilitation journey or reading, the Table of Contents on pages 3 and 66 are fully clickable, making it easy to navigate. Use it to move quickly through the toolkit and get right to the pages you’re ready to engage with.