What is REAL participation?

What is FALSE participation?

Is it voluntary? Real participation is something a young person should want to.

If adolescents are made to demonstrate against their will, or forcibly "volunteered" into committees.

Is it equitable? Real participation is inclusive; it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, wealth, rural/urban location, ethnicity, disability, etc.

If activities are only practically accessible to rich or urban adolescents, or only boys are asked questions, or only the smart ones are selected for meetings.

Is it valued? Real participation requires all participants, including adolescents, to be valued, listened to and taken seriously.

If adolescents are present, but get little chance to participate. When they do, people don’t listen carefully or take adolescents’ views into account.

Is it respectful? Real participation means addressing each other with respect and care, not derision or paternalism.

If the chair of the meeting ignores the adolescents or speaks to them in a way that shows he does not value their presence or what they have to say.

What’s the point of it? Real participation requires young people to see the value of doing the exercise.

If adolescents are simply told what to do, they don’t really know or understanding why they are doing it.

Does it matter? Real participation happens when the area or issue is important or of interest to young people.

If adolescents are made to participate in something that they don’t care much about and feels like a waste of their time.

Does it make a difference? Real participation means young people’s contributions have an influence and make a difference.

If adolescents are asked for contributions that make no difference whatsoever in influencing thinking or changing conditions.

Are the physical arrangements fair and conducive? How the seating is arranged makes a big difference.

If the adults sit in chairs while adolescents are on the floor, the room’s periphery or under the hot sun.

Is it done in a language that adolescents understand well? Real participation requires adolescents to feel competent and comfortable in the medium of communication.

If discussions are held in English in a rural district, or the manner is very formal and full of "big words".

Are the rules fair for all? Real participation is done in a manner in which everyone can participate equally and comfortably, and often involves adolescents in making the rules.

If some adults dominate, while adolescents don’t get a chance or are cut off too early. People are made to contribute in ways they do not know or like.

Are the children participants adequately informed and prepared? Real participation means adolescents have had enough time, opportunity and support to prepare.

If adults have experience and information whereas the adolescents are just pulled in with little sense of what is happening and time to prepare.

Are the allowable roles fair? Real participation assigns roles and responsibilities fairly, and allows everyone to play a role they are capable of whenever possible.

If teachers make all the decisions and rules while adolescents just answer questions, or only adolescents are made to park bicycles and serve tea.

What’s the level? Real participation goes beyond show and allow young people to initiate ideas, make decisions and take actions to the maximum extent of their capability.

If adolescents are told to participate in certain ways without having a say in the content or method of participation, or adolescents are only consulted when they are also capable of responsible decision making.

Is it honest? Real participation respects ethics, avoids manipulation and is clear in its purpose and methods.

If adolescents are not told the truth or deliberately left in the dark about what is happening.

Is it safe? Real participation takes all steps to ensure no participation is endangered.

If confidentiality is not maintained where appropriate, such as when the adolescent who tells the truth about something is punished.

What happens afterwards? Real participation is clear and transparent about how the output of the participation will be taken forward, and how it connects with other processes. It often aims to institutionalize participation for sustainability.

If adolescents participate actively on something important but it is not clear what follow-up will take place or what will be done with their contribution. Session report is not shared checked with adolescents.