Perspectives, Experiences, and Involvement of Youths in Promoting Sustainable Development Goals in Malaysian Parliamentary Constituencies

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of goals that aim to create new partnerships that involve all sectors of society to create a community that leaves no one behind. People often think of youth as drivers of innovation and social change, and they can play a key role in realising the SDGs at the local level. This study used an action research methodology to examine the perspectives, experiences, and competence of Malaysian youths with regard to their contributions to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. Data was taken from the Malaysian Youth SDG Agent Initiative, which involved 67 participants in a quantitative survey and 24 in the second phase as SDG Agents. The findings describe youths’ perspectives and experiences with three aspects of youth involvement in promoting SDG. It is unequivocally affirmed from various perspectives that youth hold such a significant role as active agents contributing to the promotion of the SDGs, especially in raising awareness about the SDGs in the local community via organising SDG workshops and participating in different dialogues. Youths also have a positive regard for their abilities and effectiveness, which is a good sign that their diverse experiences have helped build the country. As a result, recommendations are made to bring to people’s attention ways for youths to be included in constituency-based sustainable development.