Website gives children voice – 2011 Election

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An online platform where students discuss current political issues ahead of the 2011 Election shows bullying, gangs and domestic violence are only some of the issues children and young people want to have solved.
Save the Children NZ, who launched the forum ‘Hear Our Voices Values Exchange’ ahead of the upcoming Election, aims to encourage children about how current issues should be addressed.
The website allows young people to vote on the key things they want the new government to consider. Users can then see their results in real time and compare them to what others have to say.
Liz Gibbs, the chief executive of Save the Children, hopes teachers will help ensure young people are able to contribute to political solutions for the future.
She says the exchange “promotes real democracy” and believes over time will be an “invaluable tool for government, business, communities and organisations to connect with young people and take their opinions on board”.
“We are playing our part in bringing these views to the nation,” she says.
The platform was created in partnership with Professor David Seedhouse, the creator of the Values Exchange, to which he refers as “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.
He developed the platform “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,” he says.
 
Photo caption: Abbey Miles (left to right), Saarah Abdeen, Cynthia Corne and Michael O’Neil of Save the Children’s Child and Youth Council test the online platform.