America’s Youth Say ‘Individual Rights and Freedoms’ Is Top Social Concern.

One year after the September 11th attacks, America’s youth say individual rights and freedoms is their top social concern, a new poll by the youth leadership organization, Do Something, reports. The nationwide study of more than 1,100 students ages 8-18, performed by Harris Interactive, also finds youth are extremely optimistic about their future, believing they will reach their personal goals, live a long life and earn a living to do the things they want despite the terrorist attacks of one year ago.

In conjunction with the release of the new youth poll, Do Something and the AOL Time Warner Foundation are offering a special school action guide, “Reflect, Reach Out, Rebuild: Remembering 9/11,” designed to help educators and students commemorate the anniversary of September 11th through meaningful discussion about democracy and by taking positive action in their communities. The free action guide and the complete youth study are available at http://www.dosomething.org (Youth) and http://coach.dosomething.org (Educators).

“While the terrorist attacks on September 11th have not changed young people’s optimism about the future, they have dramatically raised youth awareness of the importance of individual rights and freedoms. This study demonstrates that youth care deeply about preserving the fundamental individual rights of our democracy,” says Andrew Shue, the co-founder of Do Something. “As we mark the one year anniversary of 9-11, Do Something is inviting students and educators across America to reflect, reach out and rebuild their communities.”

TOP ISSUES FOR AMERICA’S YOUTH

America’s youth say individual rights and freedoms (70%), guns at school (64%), drunk driving (63%), self-esteem (60%) and improving schools (60%) are their top social concerns with drugs (59%), discrimination (58%), terrorism (57%), depression and teen suicide (53%) and abuse at home (52%) rounding out the top ten issues that are extremely or very important to them personally.

YOUTH OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE

One year after the terrorist attacks, youth have retained their optimism about the future, and relatively few have increased fears of personal experiences with terrorism. When thinking about their life since the events of September 11, 2001, youth report the following views:

* Eight in ten (83%) believe they will reach their personal goals. Girls are more likely than boys to believe this (86% vs. 79%).

* Eight in ten (82%) believe they will find a good job and make enough money to do the things they want.

* Seven in ten (72%) believe they will live a long life. Younger kids (8-12 year olds) are more likely than teens to believe this (81% vs. 64%).

* One-third (32%) believe they will live to see peace in the Middle East. Younger kids are more likely than teens (13-18 year olds) to believe this (37% vs. 27%).

* Only eight percent believe they will be victims of terrorism.

“Generation Y continues to be very optimistic about their future and their ability to shape it,” said Dana Markow, Ph.D., Director, Youth and Education Research, Harris Interactive. “While youth are expressing a strong concern for individual rights and freedoms in the wake of 9-11, their lives are still defined by a sense of promise and possibilities.”

YOUTH BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE …

The new study also finds young people believe in their power to make a difference in their communities and the importance of community involvement:

* Eight in ten youth (79%) agree that people their age can make a positive change in their communities. Girls are more likely than boys to believe this (83% vs. 75%).

* Seven in ten youth (69%) agree that they can make a positive change in their community.

* Nearly three-quarters of youth (73%) agree that it is important for people their age to get involved in helping their community. This view is more likely among girls than boys (77% vs. 69%), and among younger kids than teens (77% vs. 70%).

… YET LACK FAITH IN ELECTED OFFICIALS

However, youth feel disconnected from elected officials and the political process:

* One third of youth (34%) agree that elected officials care about issues that affect them and other people their age. Younger kids are more likely than teens to believe this (41% vs. 28%).

* Three in ten youth (30%) agree that elected officials are making positive changes in their community.

“Young people’s ideas and idealism have always fueled positive change in our democracy,” said Mr. Shue. “We want to engage young people in the process by giving them a voice in their community and helping them turn their own ideas into action.”

SCHOOL GUIDE: ‘REFLECT, REACH OUT, REBUILD … REMEMBERING 9-11’

For more information about Do Something, educators can visit http://coach.dosomething.org or email co*****@do*********.org. Youth can visit http://www.dosomething.org or email ad****@do*********.org.