Youth-Led Solutions for a Better World

Step 1: Understand the problem

• Research and discuss youth challenges globally.
• Engage in virtual debates on youth topics.

Step 2: Empathize

• Conduct interviews with local youth.
• Create empathy maps to synthesize insights.

Step 3: Define

• Brainstorm and identify pressing youth issues.
• Create problem statements based on research.

Step 4: Ideate

• Generate potential solutions through ideation workshops.
• Encourage creative and innovative thinking.

Step 5: Prototype

• Develop rough prototypes using accessible materials.
• Facilitate peer feedback sessions for refinement.

Step 6: Test

• Create testing sessions to evaluate the prototypes.
• Implement the prototypes, gather feedback, and iterate solutions.

Collaborative Activities

• Youth challenges research. In teams, students research and discuss the most pressing challenges faced by youth in their respective countries and globally.
• Virtual debates. Students engage in structured debates on youth-related topics, developing argumentation and active listening skills.
• Collaborative ideation session. In international teams, students engage in a virtual brainstorming session to generate innovative solutions to youth challenges.Teams use collaborative online tools to share and build upon each other's ideas.
• Prototype showcase and feedback exchange. Students create digital prototypes of their solutions and present them in a virtual showcase. Also, teams provide constructive feedback on each other's prototypes, facilitating peer learning and improvement.
• Presentation of their global youth action solution. Student teams collaborate to develop solutions that address specific youth challenges in their communities. Teams present their solution in a virtual global forum, inspiring others and generating support for their initiatives.

Assessment and reflection ✍️

• Rubrics to assess student participation, collaboration, and the quality of their research and presentations.
• Assessment Matrix - Facing a global challenge
• Reflection journal to encourage students to think critically about their learning, their personal growth and the potential impact of their actions.
• Peer and self-assessment opportunities to foster accountability and ownership of learning.

Teacher tips 💡

• Foster a safe and inclusive learning environment that values diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Provide clear guidelines and expectations for respectful communication and collaboration. We suggest you review the coexistence policies of Class2Class.org.
• Facilitate the formation of diverse international teams, ensuring a mix of skills, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Provide scaffolding and support throughout the research and action planning process, offering guidance and resources as needed.
• Encourage student agency and ownership of their learning, allowing them to drive the direction of their projects.
• Celebrate student achievements and facilitate meaningful reflection on their growth and the impact of their actions.

We invite you to join us in celebrating International Youth Day by engaging your students in this transformative project. By participating, your students will develop crucial 21st-century skills, such as research, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by youth worldwide. Through meaningful collaboration with their international peers, your students will become empowered leaders, ready to take action and drive positive change in their communities and beyond.