Equality and Human Rights Commission

This enquiry explores civic participation and youth leadership. It asks:

• What are your rights to contribute to decision making in any situation, from school right up to world governance?
• What can you do to change things?
• What is stopping you?
• Can creativity make a difference?

Some background

The Government has put a lot of money in initiatives to give young people more say across society and to develop their leadership skills. Compared to 10 years ago, there is now a UK Youth Parliament and there are many more youth-led spaces, arts projects and councils. Local authorities and other public bodies are also required to consult with young people before making decisions that affect them. For information, see http://www.theyouthoftoday.org/  and http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/

The United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights that every child under the age of 18. The Convention recognises children and young people as rights holders and encourages their active participation in decisions affecting them. It calls on governments to provide a platform for young people to voice their views and opinions.

However, there are some barriers preventing young people from playing a full part in a democratic society. You could discuss: What factors do you think prevent you from being included in decision making at school or in other clubs or groups, and in Government?

A scenario

Is there something you feel should change in your school (or club or community)? How might you use creativity and art to make the change? How as a group would you make decisions on what needs to be done? How would you influence the adults who normally make decisions? 

Artist inspirations

Room 13 artists

In 1994, a group of students from Caol Primary School, Fort William set up a visual arts studio which they called Room 13.  In discussion with their new art teacher, they decided to take control of their learning and set up the room as an independent art studio and a business. They started to sell works, ran a school photography service and devised other projects to bring in funds. The project grew rapidly and soon they had enough funds to invite an artist in residence to work with them.  All decisions are made by the students and each student is required to take different roles and responsibilities, including manager and cleaner. Now there are Room 13s all over the world and the young people exhibit in major galleries alongside adult artists. The members have created extraordinary works in response to equality and rights issues. For example, Marley Falconer made a piece about climate change called Solar Girl, which was exhibited in Tate Modern. Nikki Donnelly made work about Apartheid in South Africa, and also introduced Room 13 to Soweto, South Africa where it is now thriving.

There are many more examples to see more on http://www.room13scotland.com/index.php

Illustrations if you want to use them (select images to enlarge):

Performance piece by Lindsey Martin, about the feeling of being ‘trapped in dust as it turns into a shroud’.

Nikki Donnelly’s The Great Hatred Barcode.

Dennis Gyamfi – Create Not Hate

Gyamfi, now 19 years old, was born in Ghana but came to London when he was ten. As he grew up, Dennis hung out with gangs and got into trouble. By chance he met a man who invited him to take part in a youth project and he decided to change his life. He became a mentor for other young people and started work for a film company called Quiet Storm Films. He got involved in Create Not Hate, a campaign against gun crime and created his first short film, A Mother’s Tear.

He was nominated for the Youth Black Achievement Award. His latest project is a magazine called End2endz where he showcases work by young people, explaining: "I want to spread a positive message, to show what young people are capable of when we're given the chance. We need to encourage each other and show people what we can do – if we're given the opportunities and the right support." Short films can reach masses of people and have a chance of being seen by people in power, partly because they can be shared online and they may have strong emotional impact. Dennis isn’t just spreading his own word: he helps to champion the work of other young people, who each speak individually but with some common concerns.