Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation(MIYP)
Powered by You(th), Driven by Change.
MIYP in Practice at PtY
At Power to You(th), we believe that real change happens when young people are not just participants but leaders in shaping their futures. That’s why Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation (MIYP) is at the heart of everything we do. By actively involving adolescent girls and young women from underserved communities in decision-making, we empower them to challenge harmful practices and advocate for their rights.
Our approach includes investing in youth-led organizations, providing technical support and capacity building, creating spaces for civic engagement, and fostering youth–adult partnerships. These partnerships ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged by policymakers and adult allies at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to national policy platforms, strengthening the impact of their contributions.
And we don’t stop there! MIYP intersects with other powerful approaches—like our Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA), to tackle deep-rooted norms and power imbalances. Together, these approaches create a ripple effect: shifting mindsets, challenging systems, and driving gender equality from the ground up. Simply put, we trust young people to lead, and we back them every step of the way.
MIYP isn’t a checkbox; it’s the engine driving everything we do!
Stewarding MIYP at PtY: The Global Youth Group
MIYP Champions
Young people are leading the charge towards a just and equal future: ensuring youth voices are not just heard, but respected and acted upon. Meet some of our MIYP champions who are driving change , inspiring us one step at a time!
“Before joining Husika Dada (as a volunteer), it was very hard for me to even understand myself and express myself well”
For Quinter, being a young woman with a disability meant struggling to have her voice heard, especially on SRHR. That changed when she joined the Power to You(th) Kenya program through the Husika Dada Initiative, a youth-led advocacy platform creating safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to discuss challenges, amplify their voices, and engage in decision-making. Through this support, Quinter gained the knowledge and confidence to advocate for herself and others, while also developing SRHR awareness and practical skills in beadwork that contributed to her financial independence. “Before joining Husika Dada (as a volunteer), it was very hard for me to even understand myself and express myself well,” she shared.
Her involvement in Power to You(th) has also allowed Quinter to witness broader societal change. “But now, I know my rights as a woman with disability on matters of sexual health and empowerment.” She has observed how sensitization and awareness efforts have shifted attitudes toward people with disabilities, particularly in healthcare. Where pregnant women with disabilities once faced judgment and discrimination, she now sees a growing sense of respect and acceptance, a shift that motivates her to continue speaking out.
“Being able to see that idea come to life was my proudest moment”
Godfrey, a 25-year-old youth leader from Malawi, has always been passionate about Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation (MIYP). As Youth Inclusion & Engagement Officer at Youth Wave Malawi, he led a seed grant project funded by CHOICE through the Power to You(th) program, aimed at bridging the gap between young people and older leaders in decision-making spaces. At just 22, he proposed the idea of intergenerational dialogues, a concept that challenged norms in Malawi where leadership is often reserved for older individuals. “Being able to see that idea come to life was my proudest moment,” he reflected.
The project began with training sessions for both youth and community leaders, equipping them with leadership, MIYP, and advocacy skills. It culminated in intergenerational dialogues that created rare opportunities for collaboration and shifted perceptions of young people’s leadership potential. Godfrey also ensured inclusivity by involving young persons with disabilities, often excluded from such initiatives. These dialogues became a turning point, fostering mutual respect and breaking down barriers of tokenism and exclusion.
“Young people know what they need, but without a stronger bridge to elders, their voices will remain unheard”
Growing up in Tamale, a city rooted in traditional beliefs, Faizatu Sualisu noticed how cultural norms that demanded youth obedience excluded young people from decisions that shaped their lives. Elders dominated decision-making spaces, and the intergenerational gap kept widening. Motivated by these experiences, she joined the Power to You(th) program and became active in the Girls Advisory Council (GAC). Her leadership was recognized by NORSAAC, which appointed her as the young focal lead on the Gender Transformative Approach. Now serving as GAC’s Regional Coordinator, Faizatu transforms her passion into action, equipping girls with advocacy and leadership skills and pushing for youth empowerment. “Young people know what they need, but without a stronger bridge to elders, their voices will remain unheard,” she explained.
In 2024, with support from a CHOICE seed grant, Faizatu and the GAC turned training into action by strengthening youth-adult partnerships through intergenerational dialogues. Unlike traditional formal meetings, their project introduced creative approaches like Sip & Paint sessions and art exhibitions where youth and elders could connect more openly. These activities broke down barriers, encouraged candid conversations about expectations and collaboration, and opened space for young women to step confidently into leadership roles.
“Collaboration is what gives us strength to push for real change”
In 2023, young advocates in Indonesia realized that stronger collaboration was needed to address child marriage. Many youth-led organizations were already working on the issue, but their impact could be greater if they joined forces. To change this, 2030 Youth Force Indonesia, with leaders like Tirza, united these groups into the National Coalition for Young People to Prevent Child Marriage. As a founding member, Tirza helped set up the secretariat, draft the work plan, and ensure decisions were shared among members. “Collaboration is what gives us strength to push for real change,” she emphasized. What began as a simple idea quickly became a structured movement demanding meaningful youth participation in policymaking.
The coalition faced hurdles such as limited funding, competing commitments, and uneven government support. Some ministries welcomed youth voices, while others reduced their role to tokenism. To build influence, the coalition combined persistence with creativity. Instead of relying only on formal lobbying, they used public spaces like Jakarta’s Car-Free Day to raise awareness, inviting people to play board games, sign petitions, and discuss child marriage and SRHR in interactive ways.
“We want to make sure that the authorities listen to what young people are saying, and that they are better represented at different levels”
With 75% of Senegal’s population under 35 but only 2% represented in decision-making, the CI LAA BOKK platform was created in 2005 by young elected leaders, parliamentarians, and civil society actors to change the status quo. Its name, meaning “I’m part of it” reflects its mission to ensure youth are not just present but influential in governance. Since joining the Power to You(th) program, the platform has strengthened its capacity in MIYP, advocacy, and leadership, transforming from a grassroots initiative into a national force. “We want to make sure that the authorities listen to what young people are saying, and that they are better represented at different levels,” shares youth changemaker Papa Makha Nguer Seck from the Thiès region.
Today, CI LAA BOKK unites young parliamentarians, councillors, activists, and civil society leaders into a powerful coalition for change. Together they push for rights-based reforms, including lowering age limits for elected positions and establishing a minimum quota for youth representation. By equipping young leaders with the knowledge and skills to advocate effectively, the platform strengthens collaboration between youth and authorities, ensuring that policies on health, education, employment, and SRHR reflect the realities of the country’s largest demographic.
Toolkits/ Publications/ Reports
Newsletters
Subscribe to the MIYP Youth Engage Newsletter here
Click Here To SubscribeWhile we’ve pulled together some key partner resources for you here, there’s even more to explore! 
Check out the links below to access additional tools and guides straight from our amazing partner organization
Power To You(th) aims to amplify youth voices and participation in creating change. We believe change starts with the community.
info@powertoyouth.org
