Gen Z believes they can change the world - let's help them do it!

I’ve been digging into market research on Generation Z (13 -18 years) to understand more about what they care about, what makes them hopeful and what is fuelling their disengagement and rise in mental health issues.

There are some common themes in their views:

• They believe that they can change the world and are driven by a need to achieve equality[1].
• They are passionate about environmental causes, unsurprising given that they are bearing the brunt in terms of lack of job opportunities and saving the planet.[2]
• They are risk-averse, identify far less with entrepreneurship (unlike Millennials[3]) but in fact love to co-create solutions that have a positive impact.[4]

What I know from 20+ years working in social change and social business, is that it is this capacity to co-create solutions which is what makes real and lasting impact.

Not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur, but we do need to equip all our children and Gen Z’s with entrepreneurial mindset – the life skills, leadership skills and strategic thinking skills – that make them resilient, hopeful problem-solvers.

If you truly want to build their wellbeing and prepare them for today’s world, you need to build this mindset with them, drawing on everyone’s unique creativity.
 
Here’s how you can do it.

1. You can set up a learn to move mountains® hub in your school or organisation (think youth NGO, youth club, after-school club, library...)
It is designed to build the mindset and skills that Gen Z’s need by exploring the causes that they care about, making an inclusive space to engage all of them. Find out how here. Get signed up for the next online training course starting in June, so you can set it up.

2. Give them a voice by asking them to name the causes that they care about as a community. Are they the same as this list?

3. Discover what they think about equality and how to achieve it within their community. Use At My Best Strengths cards to aid the discussion through a celebration of strengths - you can get a set in the Flow In Action Shop.

Get all of your youth included and engaged as problem-solvers in the 21st Century.  
 
[1] http://www.millennialmarketing.com/2017/01/gen-z-believes-their-generation-can-change-the-world/
 
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/10/04/11-environmental-causes-gen-z-is-passionate-about/#1ffd90391849
[3] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/08/these-are-the-issues-keeping-millennials-awake-at-night-shapers-survey-2017/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/19/think-millennials-have-it-tough-for-generation-k-life-is-even-harsher

​#resilience #grit #creativity #socinn #ecosocinn #youngentrepreneurs #wellbeing #entrepreneurmindset #purposedriven #flowinaction #pureenergyofcreating