Equipping Young People to Engage and Lead in Public Life
2026-03-19
The NMT Media Foundation has launched the Youth Civic Action Playbook, a practical resource designed to strengthen how young people participate in public life. The playbook responds to a clear gap. Many young people show strong interest in civic issues, yet face limited access to structured tools, reliable information, and meaningful opportunities to influence decisions.
The playbook brings together civic education and media literacy in a single, action oriented resource. It supports young people to understand how institutions function, how public decisions are made, and how information shapes participation. It also guides users to access information, verify content, and engage responsibly in public discourse. The focus is practical. Each section provides tools that support analysis, dialogue, and the development of civic action plans.
The resource will be used as a core component of the NMT Media Foundation’s YouthQuake programme. Through civic and media labs, leadership processes, and dialogue forums, the playbook will support direct engagement between young people and policymakers. These engagements aim to strengthen accountability, surface youth priorities, and contribute to more responsive governance.
The development of the playbook was supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and shaped through engagement with young participants. Their perspectives informed both the content and structure of the final product. The Foundation states that meaningful youth participation requires more than inclusion. It requires access to tools, information, and platforms that enable young people to engage with clarity and purpose.
The Youth Civic Action Playbook is now available for download on the NMT Media Foundation website.