The Youth As Researchers (YAR) global initiative on COVID-19 connects and engages with young people to conduct research on the impacts of COVID-19 on young people and the responses young people have implemented to tackle these. UNESCO and the UNESCO Chairs at the National University of Ireland Galway and Penn State University lead a consortium of youth-led or youth-related actors to support the research through training, mentoring and coordination.
Young people aged 18-35 have formed research teams that answer these and other questions. This research is designed by young people, conducted by young people and about young people. The youth researchers will collaborate with a group of like-minded young people, receive training and be supported by a team coordinator to assist with the research.
Launched at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO’s “Youth As Researchers on COVID-19” (YAR) is a signature global youth-led research initiative that consolidates evidence from youth across the world on their experiences of, and impactful action during, the global COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to contributing with youth perspectives to inform policy decisions, the goal of the initiative is to promote evidence-based policy- making, and to counter disinformation.
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The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted the lives of young people, leaving them uncertain of their prospects. This uncertainty lingers on, accentuated by ongoing crises. In parallel, the pandemic also revealed examples of resilience and solidarity by youth mobilising to support their communities. Understanding the lessons of the pandemic is fundamental to address youth concerns and to develop lasting solutions with them. This publication intends to inform responses to youth challenges aggravated since the pandemic and through subsequent crises. It uses youth-led research to unveil evidence of the pandemic’s impact on youth, and their actions, in response. The ten featured studies were developed under UNESCO’s Youth As Researchers initiative on ‘Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on youth’ (2020-2022) which engaged over 10,000 young people across all regions. UNESCO is committed to bringing the ideas of youth to policy-makers and practitioners to generate lasting solutions.
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