
2024-25 EDITION
Our dream
The Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) was founded on a bold dream: to move beyond traditional measurements of youth well-being and explore what makes life meaningful through the eyes of children and youth themselves.
Built with and for youth
Co-designed alongside over 10,000 children and adolescents in over 7 countries.
Holistic approach
Focuses on existential, emotional, social, and mental dimensions of life.
Participatory research
From advisory councils to youth-led data collection and interpretation.
Action-ready
Informs educational reform, mental health support, and youth-led change initiatives.
KEY FINDINGS
Highlights
Social connectivity is the strongest driver of youth meaningfulness—but access to emotional care remains unequal.
Girls and boys experience meaning differently, with girls excelling in relational and introspective domains and boys in physical engagement.
As youth age, their sense of meaning often declines, particularly in conflict-affected or under-resourced areas.
Youth with disabilities—especially sensory/cognitive—report significantly lower levels of meaning across all drivers.
THE SCIENCE OF MEANING:
Filling a crucial gap in research
One of the guiding academic voices behind YMI is Professor Habib Tiliouine, a renowned scholar in social and educational psychology at the University of Oran2 in Algeria. With nearly four decades of experience and numerous international publications on well-being, quality of life, and childhood development, Tiliouine brings a deeply rooted and culturally sensitive perspective to the YMI initiative.
A global need
One frequent critique of frameworks like YMI is their perceived Western or Nordic bias. But Tiliouine challenges this notion head-on. “This isn’t an Occidental crisis,” he insists. “It’s a global, human crisis—manifesting differently across cultures but rooted in a shared need for purpose and belonging.”
He points out that in collectivistic societies such as those in North Africa and the Middle East, traditional support structures are evolving. The shift from extended to nuclear family units, rising individualism, and youth disillusionment have created new existential questions. “Even in Islamic contexts, young people are reinterpreting religion, questioning inherited norms, and seeking a meaningful life on their own terms,” he says.
Religion, Education, and the Pursuit of Purpose
Tiliouine emphasizes the spiritual and cultural dimensions of meaning, particularly in societies where religion remains deeply embedded in daily life. “In many Islamic countries, religion provides a frame of reference that helps youth understand their place in the world,” he explains. “But that doesn’t mean it’s static—young people are looking for new ways to connect with these values.”
He also underlines the importance of education—not merely as schooling but as empowerment. “Education equips youth with the competencies to face life’s challenges and reflect on their purpose,” he says. “It’s about nurturing a mindset, not just transferring knowledge.”

AMPLIFYING YOUTH VOICES:
Meet Laxmi Mandal
At the heart of YMI’s success is not just its methodology but its people-powered design, including the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). One such voice shaping this transformative tool is Laxmi Mandal, a 2nd-year Economics student from Mumbai, India, and a passionate YAC member.
A Platform for Purpose
In a recent interview, Laxmi shared her journey with YMI, describing it as “a platform where youth can raise their voices on topics often left untouched—like mindfulness, failure, and mental health.” For her, YMI offers more than data; it’s a mirror for young people to explore who they are and what truly matters.
Insights That Transform
The 2024–25 YMI report revealed compelling global trends: as children grow older, their sense of meaningfulness tends to decline, with notable emotional care gaps, especially among girls. But youth also express powerful aspirations—to contribute to society, grow intellectually, and build reciprocal relationships.
Laxmi resonated deeply with these insights. “It’s not about age—it’s your mindset that shapes your reaction to the world. When I read the results, I realized how much stereotypes limit our growth.”
She emphasized that meaning doesn’t always come from success or money. “Sometimes, it’s about family, mentors, or having a goal that lights you up inside.”
Youth as Co-Creators
Laxmi played a key role in refining the survey, ensuring it reflected real youth experiences across diverse cultures. She also helped mobilize responses from her networks, making the process grassroots and participatory.
Reflecting on the challenges, Laxmi noted, “Many young people are confused—not because they lack dreams, but because they lack support and safe spaces to express them.” She sees YMI as an antidote to this silence, empowering youth with both voice and visibility.
Toward Real Change
Laxmi believes YMI findings can shape meaningful policy shifts in education and mental health. “If decision-makers see how youth feel, they’ll stop making assumptions and start listening. That’s real change.”
She also embodies this change. Inspired by her curiosity, Laxmi recently launched her own podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring individuals—“real-life colleges,” as she puts it—showing how meaningful conversations can spark transformation.
RISING FROM THE MARGINS:
Lasu Manasi on Youth Voice and the Meaning of Change
Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) place the youth, their voices, and their lived experiences at the center of global conversations about well-being and purpose. One of those voices is Lasu Manasi, an 18-year-old South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda, an entrepreneur, and a changemaker.

Meaning as a driver of growth
For Lasu, meaningfulness is not abstract. It’s “the great value of a person”—something that must reflect not just in individual lives, but in the decisions they’re empowered to make. He speaks of YMI’s role in shifting mindsets, helping young people understand their own value, while encouraging others to listen: families, communities, policymakers.
He sees meaningfulness as both internal and social: “It’s not about how big you are, but if you’re small, how can you still be seen and make people understand your growth?”
Despite YMI’s inclusive methodology, Lasu raises a critical point: digital access remains a barrier. Many youth in his community, especially refugees, struggle with limited internet access and devices. He advocates for creative solutions—podcasts, local radio shows, and simplified tools—to reach more young people where they are. “Everyone will love to share at their own will—if only they had the tools.”
Lasu brings a growth mindset to everything he does. As a social entrepreneur working with women on storytelling, creativity, and confidence, he is deeply committed to using his experience to uplift others. “Since learning about YMI, I think: What else is missing? What more can I add to help others understand what is meaningful to them?”
His reflections highlight YMI’s strength—not just as a data tool, but as a movement of reflection, empowerment, and change.
Lasu’s perspective as a South Sudanese refugee adds urgency to the YMI mission. In a nation marked by conflict and displacement, young people are often silenced. But Lasu sees YMI as a potential bridge: “There are decisions that require a youth’s voice. This could help youth in Sudan reflect on what truly drives them—even when displaced, even when in crisis.”
TAKE PART IN THE JOURNEY
Why Invest in the YMI?
The Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) is built on the belief that every child and young person deserves to live a life of meaning—but this vision cannot be realized without dedicated, sustained support. Funding the YMI means funding a movement that places young people at the center of research, policy, and practice.

Evidence-Based Impact
The YMI translates rich, participatory data into actionable insights for governments, schools, and civil society. Your support ensures that evidence turns into action.
Scalable, Open, and Inclusive
With data from over 6,000 youth across 7 countries—and plans to expand to 10+ countries in 2025—the YMI is designed to scale equitably. All tools and findings are open-source.
Youth-Led by Design
The YMI empowers youth through its Youth Advisory Council, community-based data collection, and co-authorship of findings. Funding ensures that youth leadership remains central.
To explore funding partnerships, contact:
The YMI is hosted by the Voluntās Foundation, a not-for-profit platform rooted in values of dignity, equity, and youth-centered change. All funding is reported transparently, and donors receive regular updates, impact briefs, and invitations to learning events and youth panels.


Fanny Marchand
Director, Voluntās Foundation
fma@voluntas.com
Niklas Kabel Pedersen
CEO, Voluntās Advisory
nkp@voluntas.com