Our dream
The Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) was born in 2022 from a simple yet profound dream: to go beyond traditional perspectives of youth and children’s well-being and focus on how they experience meaning in their lives, placing them rightfully at the center of this global conversation. We often speak about future generations, but the future of children is shaped today.
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INTRODUCTION:
Why do we need the YMI?
Research suggests that young people who feel a strong sense of purpose and meaning are better equipped to navigate challenges, exhibit greater motivation, and contribute positively to their communities (Mariano & Damon, 2008). This understanding calls for the development of frameworks that go beyond traditional well-being metrics to include the existential dimensions of life that are particularly salient for today’s youth across the globe. For adolescents, higher levels of meaningfulness are associated with lower substance abuse, a reduced likelihood of suicidal thoughts and attempts, and better health maintenance.
THE SCIENCE OF MEANING:
Professor Habib Tiliouine
on why YMI matters
In a time of rapid global change, rising mental health challenges, and shifting social structures, the search for meaning has become a universal human need—especially for the younger generation. The Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI)seeks to map this need, offering a nuanced lens through which to understand what drives the well-being and inner worlds of children and youth around the world.
One of the guiding academic voices behind this effort 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.
THE SCIENCE OF MEANING:
Filling a crucial gap in research
Tiliouine describes YMI as a long-overdue response to a gap in global well-being research. While metrics for subjective well-being are well-established, the concept of meaningfulness offers a more holistic and profound understanding of young people’s lives. “We needed a measure that could reach into the deeper zones of children’s experiences,” he explains. “Meaningfulness brings a sense of purpose, dignity, and hope—especially in adolescence, a stage where identity is forming.”
In collaboration with Voluntās, Tiliouine led the first YMI survey in Algeria, gathering data that revealed unique insights into how young people construct meaning in a cultural context often shaped by hierarchy, tradition, and collective identity.
A Global, Not Western, 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.”
From Data to Action
While YMI is a powerful diagnostic tool, Tiliouine believes its true potential lies in influencing policy and intervention. “Policymakers often seek immediate action, especially in areas like mental health, anxiety, or substance use,” he explains. “YMI offers scientific evidence that can inform strategies to help youth develop resilience and direction.”
He encourages decision-makers to treat meaningfulness not as a soft or philosophical concept, but as a core public health and development priority. “Without meaning, youth are vulnerable. With it, they thrive.”
Toward a Future of Flourishing
Tiliouine’s current research explores how Algerian children, some as young as six, conceptualize happiness and well-being. His work seeks to uncover the drivers of childhood flourishing—from family and school to neighborhood environments. “What we find can help shape how societies design environments where children feel seen, heard, and valued,” he says.
Through YMI, Professor Habib Tiliouine offers not only an academic framework—but a passionate call to rethink how the world listens to its youth.
Amplifying Youth Voices: Laxmi Mandal on the Power of Meaningfulness
As the world continues to seek more inclusive and human-centered approaches to youth well-being, the Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) emerges as a groundbreaking initiative. Launched in 2022 by the Voluntās Foundation, YMI goes beyond traditional well-being metrics, capturing the inner worlds of children and youth—their sense of purpose, aspirations, relationships, and self-care.
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.
“Most youth are overwhelmed by choices,” Laxmi explained. “This platform helps them reshape their thinking and gives direction.”
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.
A Call to Listen
The YMI is not just a survey—it’s a movement. And Laxmi is a reminder that when youth are truly heard, they don’t just share insights—they help design the future.
Rising from the Margins: Lasu Manasi on Youth Voice and the Meaning of Change
In a world where power and decisions are too often the privilege of the few, the Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI)is changing the narrative—by placing 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. As a member of the Youth Advisory Council for YMI, Lasu represents not only his peers but a generation longing to be heard.
A Voice in the Silence
Lasu’s journey into YMI began with curiosity—and courage. After discovering the program through a youth change-makers group, he felt drawn to its mission. “What is meaningfulness?” he asked himself. “There’s something hidden behind that question that holds many young people back.” When he joined, he not only found answers but a platform to amplify his own.
Growing up in a culture where “only big people take decisions,” Lasu describes how young people are often excluded from shaping their futures. “There’s value inside me,” he said, “but it was held back by the culture itself.”
YMI became a space where he—and others like him—could challenge that narrative.
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?”
The Challenge of Access
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.”
YMI and the South Sudanese Context
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.”
Growth, Reflection, and Contribution
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.
A Future of Listening
Lasu’s story is a reminder that meaningfulness is not a Western luxury—it is a universal human right. His words challenge the assumption that youth must wait to be ready. “Who is that youth?” he asks. “Is it someone who understands the concept, or just someone told what to do?”
With voices like Lasu’s, the answer becomes clear: Youth are ready now. They just need the world to listen.
