Have you noticed that your child is indignant about the injustices of the world? Does he always talk about global warming, poverty and inequality? This sensitivity is no accident. Contrary to popular belief, today's young people are not a passive generation glued to their screens. On the contrary, they're thirsty for commitment and want to take concrete action to change things.

If your 12-year-old daughter is asking you how to get involved for the planet, or your 14-year-old son wants to help the underprivileged, you've come to the right place. This practical guide will help you support your child's first steps towards civic engagement.

Young people more committed than ever: stop the clichés

Let's put an end to this image of disillusioned, inactive youth. The figures speak for themselves: 80% of young people say they are ready to get involved in a cause close to their hearts.. That's a huge number! And it's not just a declaration of intent: 30% of 15-30 year-olds already volunteer at least once a month.

What's even more surprising is that volunteering is on the rise among 15-34 year-olds, while it is declining among the over-65s. So our children aren't less involved than we are - they're just involved in different ways.

Evolving forms of commitment

Today's young people are no longer as committed as their parents. Gone are the days of automatic membership of political parties or trade unions. Make way for a more concrete, more direct, more immediate commitment.

They want to see the impact of their actions quickly. They also get involved through the way they consume (becoming vegetarian, boycotting certain brands), through their communication on social networks, or through one-off but significant actions.

"Young people need to be able to see their action immediately and to be able to see the effects."

Why encourage your child to get involved?

You may be wondering whether letting your teenager get involved in an association will interfere with his or her studies. Exactly the opposite is true.

A formidable tool for personal development

Involvement enables young people to develop skills they don't learn at school. Negotiation, project management, leadership, empathy, self-confidence... all essential soft skills for their future.

"Our conviction is that when you commit yourself to others, when you give your time to the community, in fact, you learn at the same time. You learn, you develop skills, you get your first pre-professional experience."

An asset for career guidance and higher education

Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing the value of student involvement. Some universities even award additional ECTS credits for this civic commitment.

And when it comes to corporate recruitment, profiles with associative experience often stand out from the crowd. These young people have already learned to work as part of a team, to manage responsibilities and to adapt.

A bulwark against anxiety

In an anxiety-inducing world, especially when it comes to environmental issues, engagement is therapeutic. Rather than enduring problems, your child becomes an agent of change. It's a great way to regain confidence and combat eco-anxiety.

The causes that mobilize young people the most

Before you decide where to send your child, understand what really motivates him or her. Today, young people are massively committed to :

1. Climate and biodiversity

It's THE cause of this generation. They have grown up aware of global warming and want to take concrete action.

2. Social inequality

Fighting poverty, helping the homeless, accompanying people in difficulty: these are all missions that affect them.

3. Mental health

What's new about this generation is that they are very sensitive to issues of psychological well-being and support for young people in distress.

4. The animal cause

Animal protection, veganism, the fight against mistreatment: a cause that mobilizes a lot of people.

How to get involved from age 12: instructions for use

Does your child want to get involved, but you don't know where to start? Here's a practical guide by age and type of commitment.

Middle school: first steps (ages 11-15)

On-site commitments

• Class representative the first civic commitment, to learn how to represent your classmates

• Eco-delegate specifically dedicated to environmental issues within the company

• Ambassador against bullying To combat violence in schools

Specialized youth associations

• Junior Associations(juniorassociations.org): to set up your own association project from the age of 11

• Les Petits Débrouillards citizen actions around ecology and sustainable development, from 8 years upwards

• UNICEF Youth workshops on children's rights, self-expression groups, ages 6 and up

One-off family events

You don't need a long-term commitment to get started. Here are some simple things you can do together:

For the environment

• CleanWalk walks to clean up nature (WorldCleanUpDay platform or CleanWalker France)

• Tree planting via jeveuxaider.gouv.fr

• Beach clean-up days with Surfrider Beach clean-up

For solidarity

• Food distribution and outreach Red Cross, Restos du Cœur (from age 12)

• Food drives in supermarkets, easy and accessible

• Petits Frères des Pauvres visiting an isolated elderly person (a very memorable experience)

From age 16: commitment takes shape

Civic service Over 80,000 young people take part every year! 6 to 12-month assignments, paid at €600/month, in all fields: education, environment, solidarity, culture.

Classic association volunteering All associations become accessible. The advantage: greater flexibility of commitment.

Volunteer firefighters Available from the age of 16, with full training and a real impact on civil security.

Indispensable resources for parents

Must-know websites

• jeveuxaider.gouv.fr THE reference platform for all one-off or regular assignments

• young-and-volunteer.org specially designed for under-16s

• juniorassociations.org How to create your own association

• service-civique.gouv.fr for 16-25 year olds

Further reading

• "Les enfants du climat" (published by Seuil)

• "The little guide to saving the planet

• "I want to help": practical guides for taking action

Mistakes to avoid as a parent

Don't impose your vision of commitment

Your child is interested in the animal cause, but you'd rather he helped the elderly? Let him follow his convictions. Commitment is only genuine if it comes from the heart.

Underestimating the impact on your development

"There are plenty of young people for whom school isn't going very well, for whom access to higher education is complicated. There are plenty of young people who will have failed everything at school, but who are going to be extraordinary once they get into action."

Involvement can reveal hidden talents and boost the confidence of a child struggling at school.

Fear that it will interfere with studies

The opposite is true. Committed young people develop cross-disciplinary skills that help them in their studies and future working lives.

How to support without suffocating

Lead by example

Children of committed parents are statistically more committed. You don't have to be Mother Teresa: volunteering once a month at a local charity is enough.

Facilitating without directing

Your role? Help them find the right information, accompany them to their first appointments if necessary, but let them make their own decisions.

Adds value to its commitment

Talk about the investment around you, show that you're proud. This recognition feeds motivation.

Women's commitment: a challenge of equality

Interesting phenomenon: 70% of young people involved in civic service or voluntary work are girls. Commitment is still too often associated with "care", helping others, traditionally a female domain.

How can we encourage boys too? By showing that involvement develops leadership, project management and social entrepreneurship skills. By emphasizing the "technical" aspects: logistics, communication, management.

Things to remember

✔️ Young people are no less committed 80% want to get involved in a cause

✔️ Commitment develops skills essential for their future

✔️ You can start as young as 12 with simple actions

✔️ Parents have an accompanying rolenot to direct

✔️ It's good for their mental health Taking action rather than putting up with it

✔️ It enhances their and career path

Your child who wants to change the world isn't naive. He's part of a generation aware of the issues and ready to act.

Your job as a parent? To support your child in this wonderful civic adventure that will build him up and give him confidence in the future.