Youth Participation with Gen Z, Elena Avramovska , season 4, episode 9

Hello dear listeners,   In this episode, we talked with Elena Avramosvska, a researcher with over 10 years of experience studying democracy, political participation, and gender equality, with a special focus on Generation Z across Europe. The conversation was rich, nuanced and at times surprising. Elena challenged the common narrative that young people are simply apolitical or disengaged. The reality, is far more complex: Generation Z is not uninterested in politics, they are deeply disillusioned with the politics they are getting. They feel unrepresented, and when something truly resonates with their lived experience, they can mobilise quickly and powerfully. One of the most striking findings from her research is how socioeconomic anxieties have overtaken climate change as the dominant concern among young people across Europe. Housing, job insecurity, healthcare, and even pensions are now top of mind (yes, pensions) reflecting a profound and somewhat unexpected sense of long-term uncertainty. As Elena explains, this generation feels they have done everything right, (finished their education, found work, tried to be good citizens) and yet the system doesn't seem to be holding up its end of the bargain. We also explored the growing gender divide in political attitudes. Young women are moving towards more progressive positions, while young men lean increasingly towards the right. Yet beneath this apparent polarisation, Elena finds something more hopeful: both groups share the same diagnosis. They see the same broken system, the same economic insecurity. Where they differ is in how they interpret what that means for their own lives, and what should be done about it. Authenticity, Elena notes, matters enormously, young people can tell when they're being talked about rather than talked to. For youth workers, her message is clear: stop thinking about how to "activate" young people and start thinking about how to genuinely connect with their real, everyday concerns. Trust is built locally, one meaningful relationship at a time. It was a truly inspiring conversation — we hope you enjoy it! Here is the link to the study about gender divides among Gen Z.   For any ideas, comments, or suggestions, feel free to email us at [email protected]. This episode is part of the Inception of Learning project, funded by the Erasmus+ Youth Programme, which supports youth workers, trainers, and educators in delivering high-quality learning experiences for young people in the context of Generation Z and Generation Alpha. #YouthWork # ElenaAvramovska #PoliticalParticipation #Democracy