Youth participation: Grow it or kill it - the formula for both

"Young people are interested in their communities and many are actively involved. Having said that, adults do act as gate keepers with regard to youth involvement in decision-making and there is a need to question why more community groups, local authorities and government departments do not involve youth in their development plans. The energy and committment of young people to create positive social change needs to be harnessed- instead it is common for young people to be viewed as the cause of social deterioration. The failure of adults to involve young people in the search for solutions to community problems is both unfortunate and counter-productive."