Problem Statement

Young people in Mexico need to become actively involved in political participation to build a strong and just democracy in the country. The low political participation of young people is a significant obstacle on the path towards a more robust and fair democracy in Mexico and should be effectively addressed. According to INEGI, only 17% of young people aged 18 to 29 voted in the presidential elections of 2018.

Specifically, in Mexico City, three main issues are identified that need to be addressed in order to achieve greater youth civic participation and informed voting.

Firstly, the absence of young political leaders and the lack of policies specifically addressing the concerns of this demographic have led to a noticeable apathy and disinterest, resulting from the absence of representation.

Secondly, this dynamic is reinforced through a robust civic education; specifically, an insufficient understanding of political processes, the intricacies of public administration, and the relevance of the voting process.

Finally, the disinterest, distrust, and lack of credibility surrounding political parties (perceived by individuals over 18 years old, according to the 2022 National Survey of Government Impact and Quality, as the institution with the lowest level of trust) prove to be a key factor when exercising their right to vote. Meanwhile, misinformation and fake news on the internet and social media further amplify this scenario.

Target Group

Our target group is young people between 18 and 29 years old in Mexico City.

Proposed Solution

Our main objective is to enhace education, generate interest among more young individuals in this important topics, and accurate knowledge about the political landscape and proposals to exercise their right to vote in an informed way.

Hub Activities

Through a series of three workshops scheduled for March, April, and June we create three types of activities to achieve our main objective. Each of it center in one of the aforementioned goals.

• "Café Político": An in-person awareness campaign with young individuals, structured in a dialogue-circle format involving politically engaged youth and decision-makers. The initiative aims to facilitate firsthand information sharing, open dialogue, and a meaningful transfer of knowledge regarding the electoral process and candidates' proposals. With the primary goal of enhancing education and confidence through firsthand interactions.


• Now: '1,2,3 por la Democracia": A social media campaign encompassing diverse materials such as reels, infographics formatted as publications, and live sessions to create digital spaces with and for young individuals. The campaign aims to share perspectives and enrich the discussion on democracy by fostering engagement and dialogue. Its primary objective is to increase engagement, a sense of belonging, and receptiveness in spaces related to civic and political participation. By sharing viewpoints, fostering an engaging debate, it aims to generate interest among more young individuals.


• “Vis a Vis”: Physical spaces designed as conferences and debates among experts, analysts, and decision-makers, open to youth participation. Creating direct channels of communication and dialogue, as well as facilitating the acquisition of tools, terminology, and accurate knowledge about the political landscape and proposals.

Short and Long-term Goals/Results

In the short term we want to create at least five strategic alliances including Non-profit organizations, universities, private sector, and civil society regarding the project scope. Also including, sponsors and the identification of workshop facilitators. Over the long term, our goal is to reach a total of 200 youth living in Mexico City from at least three different organizations and sectors, providing them with solid knowledge and a panoramic view of the political landscape and proposals regarding 2024.

Available Metrics

We aim to have 200 participants in the workshops and activities. We anticipate that at least 60% will actively go to vote.

Collaborators

Civil society, UNAM, Tec.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/decidetemexico/