Insights
YMI across the globe
The Youth Meaningfulness Index (YMI) is the first ever project to gather experiences of meaning of children and youth and investigate – how we can cater to provide new generations with more meaning and well-being – to explore and measure how youth experience meaning in their lives. We often speak about future generations, but the future of children is shaped today.
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Elevating Youth Meaningfulness in the global mental health crisi
With world leaders having just gathered at the Summit of the Future and the United Nations General Assembly in New York, we now have a unique opportunity to rethink our approach to addressing the mental health and well-being of young people, particularly those in conflict-affected and fragile environments.
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Empowering youth meaningful participation in climate action
This article reflects Aayush’s personal experience, illustrating the critical need to empower youth in political participation and ensure their voices are heard in global climate action forums.
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YMI in Ukraine
This groundbreaking report dives into the dimensions that drive meaning for youth, including social connectivity, purpose, self-care, and engagement, providing invaluable insights for policymakers and community leaders. Our findings aim to shape programs and policies that genuinely resonate with and support the youth of Ukraine, particularly in these challenging times.
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YMI in Algeria
The YMI Algeria Report provides insights into how youth experience meaning in their lives, based on data from students in Oran. Algerian youth value family, education, health, and religion, with physical and cognitive engagement emerging as the strongest driver of meaning. The findings reveal opportunities to enhance emotional support and community belonging through inclusive programs and policies.
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YMI in Peru
The YMI Peru Report explores how young people experience meaning in their lives, drawing on data from children aged 8–15 in Lima. With a strong emphasis on social connectivity, the report highlights the importance of relationships, mental well-being, and personal growth. Findings offer insights for educators and policymakers to support youth in leading more meaningful lives.
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YMI in India
The YMI India Report captures the perspectives of adolescents aged 13–17 in Mumbai, exploring how young people find meaning through their relationships, ambitions, and daily activities. Developed with Salaam Bombay Foundation, the findings highlight particularly high scores in purpose and cognitive engagement, especially among girls. The report underscores the importance of educational aspirations, mental well-being, and social support, offering insights to enhance adolescent development in urban India.
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YMI in Kenya
The YMI Kenya Report examines how children and youth aged 8–24 in Nairobi experience meaning in their lives, through collaboration with the Nivishe Foundation. Scoring well above global averages, Kenyan participants emphasized strong physical and cognitive engagement, purpose, and social connectivity. The report sheds light on the role of community ties, future aspirations, and creative expression in fostering meaningful lives, offering guidance for youth-focused programs and policy development.
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INSIGHTS:
The YMI 2024-25 report
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.
WEBINAR:
The launch of Youth Meaningfulness Index
The YMI Study: Understanding how youth experience meaning in their lives and the significance of measuring meaningfulness in children and adolescents worldwide.
Key Drivers of Meaning: Exploring the identified drivers of meaning, such as purpose, social connectivity, self-care, and physical and cognitive engagement.
Data Insights: Reviewing preliminary findings from our data collection in Algeria and Ukraine, in partnership with UNICEF Ukraine.
Policy Implications: Discussing how the YMI can serve as a standard metric adopted by governments and international organizations to assess youth well-being and hold decision-makers accountable.
Getting Involved: Learning practical ways you can contribute to and support this meaningful initiative.