Student Energy’s mission is to empower young people with the skills, resources, and networks they need to be able to take action. However, young people also need to be able to engage directly with actors in the energy system, and be actively included throughout decision-making and planning processes. This is where our Space for Youth program comes in: we work with governments, companies, and other institutions to create meaningful opportunities to engage with young people, and to devote resources to support youth-led energy solutions.
The aim of Student Energy’s Space for Youth program is to work with governments, companies, and other organizations to facilitate meaningful, equitable dialogue and collaboration between young people and decision-makers. Student Energy advocates for intergenerational collaboration and for co-creating solutions with young people, who will be most affected by decisions that are made now, and because young people can be powerful allies in building public support for climate action. Often, many young people are not able to participate in some of the key spaces where decisions are made – whether this is at national or international conferences, or on boards and advisory committees. Even when young people are invited to participate, high financial or geographic barriers can limit which youth can access these opportunities.
Student Energy’s Space for Youth program aims to develop and facilitate equitable programs that are as cost-free as possible, and as globally accessible as possible, in line with our Theory of Change and our Youth Engagement Principles, which we share with all partners before we work together.
As Student Energy was founded by youth to empower youth-led solutions and collaboration, our Youth Engagement Principles help ensure that our current and future programs continue to meet the needs of young people, globally. These guidelines inform our organizational priorities and strategic direction, and are also shared with all partners and collaborating organizations before beginning a partnership.
GUIDING STUDENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
1. Ensure that opportunities facilitated by Student Energy are accessible for young people across geographical, financial, educational, ethnic, gender boundaries. For opportunities we are not directly involved in, be mindful to promote a balanced, diverse array of opportunities that are accessible for global youth.
2. Before attending an event or speaking engagement, consult the ‘Student Energy’s Purpose at Events’ document to ensure we are implementing our organization principles regarding youth engagement before, during and after the event.
3. Ensure that Student Energy’s communications represent and reflect the diversity of participants.
4. Be transparent with our youth network on how and why we work with youth, and about funding and partnerships. Before collaborating with a partner, request that they do the same.
5. Elevate the profile of youth within our network to demonstrate results, barriers, and possibilities.
6. When possible, advocate for event organizers and partners to give youth agency in program development and communicate to them how they can influence the organization.
7. Ensure youth are well-supported to participate in any programs we organize or co-organize (e.g. have financial barriers reduced, provide training on relevant topics and social situations, ensure youth feel prepared).
8. Ensure all programs deliver on two or more components of our Theory of Change.
9. Ensure that Student Energy’s programs provide students in our network with exposure to as many perspectives on energy as possible so students understand all avenues where they can make changes to the energy system.
TRANSPARENCY POLICY
Information Sharing: Should any individual wish to know how and which organizations have supported Student Energy, all information will be freely shared.
Note: No personal contact information collected by Student Energy will ever be shared with third parties for any reason.
This morning, our Director of Innovation and Partnerships Helen Watts …
Stories
Over Student Energy’s 11 year history, our alums have gone on to make an impact in their communities and globally, in diverse sectors. Check out some of their stories:
studentenergy
Loading
@studentenergy
Loading