Youth Talks results
Discover our question boxes!
Do you want to dive into the results of Youth Talks’ first edition? If so, we encourage you to discover our question boxes: for each question, you will be able to take a look at the global results and key insights and discover all the ideas shared by participants. You will also be able to compare answers for several world regions and watch extracts from our interviews all over the world 🌍
You can also read the digital report here or download the report in a PDF version.
Chapter 1: The future
In this first chapter, we set out to meet the youth and discover their hopes, concerns, and visions of the future. Addressing personal aspirations and collective concerns, this collection of questions invites participants to confide in us about their personal ambitions and global concerns. What emerges from this is a nuanced panorama of utopias and dystopias, describing a future with many different faces.
The first question raises a significant divergence of opinion: the West appears to put personal happiness first whereas the rest of the world is more focused on personal success. This is joined by a second surprising revelation: despite the climate emergency, their first concern is the quest for peace.
The next question brings to light another contrast between the West and the rest of the world, in which the fear of failure takes precedence over financial concerns. The fourth question, meanwhile, reveals common priorities—environmental crises and armed conflicts—but diverging perceptions of responsibility: the West blames institutions whereas the rest of the world points the finger at the individual.
Lastly, the fifth question illustrates a troubling paradox: individualism is seen as both the problem and the solution, highlighting the difficulty of fighting collectively against the harmful behaviors of certain individuals.
Question box #2
Question box #4
Question box #5
Chapter 2: Renunciations
The future unfolds through compromise, sacrifice, and determination. This chapter examines what young people are willing to give up, but also what they refuse to sacrifice for the future.
The complexity of their answers reveals profound differences of opinion, reflecting the difficult dilemmas between personal aspiration and collective necessity. The sacrifices young people talk about reflect an increased awareness of global challenges and the desire to take action for the common good. However, their refusal to sacrifice aspects such as personal relationships, individual ambitions, and well-being emphasizes the value they place on these core pillars of their vision of the future.
This chapter also highlights a particular tension: some areas, such as material consumption, certain activities, and personal ambitions are variously cited as aspects both to give up and to maintain. This dichotomy reflects the difficult dilemma in which these young people find themselves caught, torn between the needs of the present and aspirations for a sustainable future.
This chapter reveals the many aspects of the sacrifices young people are considering as well as their non-negotiable values. It reminds us that to build the future, there must be a balance—a balance between individual and collective aspirations, between immediate changes and long-term dreams—and moreover, it highlights our young people’s deep-seated desire for a fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive future.
Question box #6
Question box #7/8
Chapter 3: Learnings
If education is the foundation of our future, then learning is what gives that future form. This chapter explores young people’s perceptions and aspirations on the topic of learning—the skills that they want to acquire to navigate tomorrow’s world.
The very nature of learning creates a clear dichotomy, but one that is often a source of confusion: the opposition between school, with its structured institutional framework, and life, with its informal, spontaneous learning. Seen through this lens, the question of what skills are required is particularly important.
Surprisingly, question 9 highlights young people’s keen interest in learning about values and virtues, which far outstrips their interest in learning simple practical life skills. These values, from integrity to empathy, are seen as essential tools for building a fairer, more sustainable society.
Question 10, meanwhile, sets out a more nuanced vision of learning, where the importance of experience coexists with that of more traditional skills. This chapter will explore this tension, which reflects a desire among young people to combine formal education with lessons learned from life for a more holistic education in keeping with the challenges of the future.
Question box #9
Question box #10
Chapter 4: Questions from young people, for young people
Chapter 4 offers targeted insights into the answers given to question 11, which, through their interrogative nature, reflect the aspirations, concerns, and questions of young people. The respondents co- created a unique question bank based on four key meta-themes.
The first of these, “personal development and aspirations,” reveals a universal search for purpose and self-actualization, and a commitment to a better future. This is the compass that guides young people toward the future they seek.
The second meta-theme, “toward a better world,” takes us to the heart of young people’s aspirations for a fairer, more sustainable future.
The third meta-theme, “the future of the youth: between a search for identity, societal responsibility, and educational transformation,” highlights the main challenges and concerns that the youth experience in contemporary society.
Finally, “well-being: a universal quest among the youth worldwide” confirms that well-being is a major concern for the youth, illustrating their desire for a balanced and fulfilled life.
This chapter describes the mental landscape of the youth all over the world, offering valuable insights to help understand and anticipate future challenges.
