Do Our Views Matter?
I’m Josh from Swansea and I would like to talk about how young people in Wales can have their say about matters which affect us.
I am also writing to let other young people like me across Wales know about some research I have been helping my dad with.
There are three children in our family - I am the eldest! I go to a comprehensive school in Swansea and we recently learned about the rights of the child, which is part of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).
I want to find out if the education system I am part of helps children and young people like me, who are educated in Wales, become good citizens.
Do you think PSE lessons at school, and participation opportunities like ‘School Councils,’ ‘Youth Forums,’ and ‘Funky Dragon’ help us feel part of society and the decision-making process? My dad is always going on about the government - I never used to really understand what he was going on about!
Just before the summer holidays last year I went with my dad to visit a Welsh Assembly Minister in Cardiff Bay to talk about the 'votes at 16' issue. He, like other Welsh Assembly Members, support the idea of lowering the voting age.
But what do you think? Do you think young people should be able to vote from the age of 16? You can find out more about Votes at 16 on this website: http://www.votesat16.org.uk
Some people agree, others don’t - but then that’s what democracy is really about. It’s a bit like the work of the school pupil council. They discuss different ideas and then vote on them. Things with the most votes normally get done in some way.
I think that is what the government does really. They have lots of ideas about different things, but only the ones most of the elected politicians vote for get made into laws.
I guess last year was quite an important year for our country as there was a general election. As a family we watched the drama unfold on TV... but it went on for days and days before we knew who was going to form a new government. It was then I started to ask my dad questions about what all this means to us in Wales?
I thought "we have our own government in Wales" and I wanted to find out what the difference was. I found this really good video on YouTube which helps explains all about the Welsh Assembly, which you can watch up on the right.
Talking with my dad I started to learn more about the role of the government and politicians and what they do. He also told me about the UK Parliament Education website which has lots of information there for young people about things like democracy.
I thought the videos about democracy were really interesting, they helped me understand lots of complicated things about politics and voting! One video has a really funny man in a uniform talking about democracy and what it would be like if we had a dictator leading the country! You can see it here.
I think my dad is quite young for a dad, he is 35. He joined the Army when he was 16 and has been to all sorts of places around the world. He has also worked for a charity which does a lot of work with homeless people. Now though, he is finishing his studies at university which is all about government stuff.
He recently asked me to help him put some questions together to find out from young people across Wales what their views and ideas are about PSE lessons at school, and participation opportunities for children and young people in Wales, such as school pupil councils and Funky Dragon.
So, whether you're an awesome political genius like me, or think politics is for dummies, please complete the survey I helped my dad with. It will help us understand more about what young people in Wales think about some of the things I have talked about.
There are two different surveys depending on your age - I did the second one because I am 12! But if you are aged 17-25, there is a different one for you.
If you are 16 or under, please complete this survey.
If you are aged 17-25, then please complete this one.
If you would like to find out more about the research, please visit: www.votewales.org.uk.
You can also follow @VoteWales on Twitter.
PS: Please ask members of your family who are aged 26+ to complete this questionnaire.
Diolch yn fawr!
IMAGE: biltho
