In times of growing societal uncertainty, geopolitical instability and social pressure, young people increasingly feel that their future is under threat. Climate anxiety, mental health issues, social inequality and economic uncertainty are not abstract concepts for many, but a daily reality. To the average young person, it feels as though they are constantly bombarded with so-called ‘MOPs’ – intractable social problems. Optimism about progress in society is visibly dwindling, not least amongst younger generations. Despite this urgency, policy often fails to pay structural attention to young people’s lived experiences and needs. With the Itinera Youth Barometer, we want to change that.

The Itinera NextGen Barometer is more than just a monitoring tool: it is a strategic compass that enables policymakers, youth organisations and society to understand the position of young people today, and to work together to build their future tomorrow. Guided by the mission ‘With the new generation, for the new generation’, this barometer measures the state of being young in Belgium – objectively, thematically and with an intergenerational focus.

Our central message is clear: the next generations must not only participate in the debate, they must help set the direction. Their voice, experience and perspective are crucial to developing policies that are sustainable, fair and forward-looking. That is why this barometer is not the end point of an analysis, but the starting point of a movement: a catalyst for change within the broader framework of Project HOPE, Itinera’s intergenerational innovation programme focused on co-creation, policy participation and resilience.

The barometer is structured around four fundamental clusters of children’s rights – Survival, Development, Participation and Protection – and comprises dozens of indicators on well-being, health, education, employment, housing, democratic engagement and social protection. Each domain is underpinned by data from reliable sources such as Statbel, Eurostat, the Health Survey, the JOP Monitor and specialised youth studies. These indicators are analysed in terms of their trends, policy context and international comparisons, resulting in standardised scores per domain and cluster.

But these scores do not tell the whole story. The strength of the barometer lies in the combination of figures and reflection: what do these figures say about how young people feel today? What structural barriers hinder their development? Where are the opportunities, and where is there a lack of vision? The barometer poses pointed questions – about the direction of our society, about the choices we make, and about the role that young people are (or are not) given in this.

With this tool, we provide young people and policymakers alike with a shared language in which to discuss the future

The future does not begin tomorrow. It begins today – with the courage to measure what matters, and the ambition to act on what we see. The Itinera NextGen Barometer is our invitation to policymakers, young people, civil society and the wider community to shape that future together: with confidence, with insight, with hope.

This barometer marks the start of a wide-ranging dialogue, as part of a process that will continue throughout the year.