Giving the future a voice

New online platform gives children a voice before 2011 Election

Bullying, gangs, domestic violence and relationships with police are just some of the issues that children and young people in New Zealand want sorted out says Save the Children New Zealand.

To understand young people’s perspectives and ideas in more depth, Save the Children New Zealand is launching Hear Our Voices Values Exchange, an online platform that allows young people to consider current issues and think about how they should be addressed. Users can then see their results in real time and compare them to what others have to say.

Save the Children is launching Hear Our Voices Values Exchange ahead of the 2011 Election, a time when adults are encouraged to have a vote and have their say on the future of New Zealand. As well as looking at issues that are important to them, young people can also vote on the key things they want the new government to consider.

New Zealand needs to hear and consider young people’s opinions and solutions to current issues and Hear Our Voices Values Exchange is a platform that will enable us all to tune in, consider and learn more about the informed and collective wisdom of young New Zealanders. They will be running this country soon enough and it is essential that they are respected and included now, says CEO of Save the Children Liz Gibbs.

“The Hear Our Voices Values Exchange promotes real democracy and over time we believe it will be an invaluable tool for government, business, communities and organisations to connect with young people and take their opinions and perspectives on board. We are playing our part in bringing these views to the nation” she says.

Save the Children is keen to encourage New Zealand children and young people to use Hear Our Voices Values Exchange to think through their responses to some of the issues for children that will be considered in the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, and will present their views and opinions to government along with their own response.

The Hear Our Voices Values Exchange was created in partnership with Professor David Seedhouse, the creator and moderator of the Values Exchange, that he calls ‘social networking with brains’.

“Many young New Zealanders are familiar with an online environment, either at home or through school. Adults often believe that children and young people don’t understand issues. However, given the opportunity, young people will tell you a different story,” he says.

“I developed Values Exchange to allow children to communicate how they think and feel about issues. Children as young as seven can use it and as well as being a great communications vehicle, it is a great way for them to build their skills and form opinions about issues that affect them.”

Children and young people can sign up through their school or access the platform at http://savethechildren.values-exchange.co.nz/ or via Save the Children’s Facebook page.