Youth participation in NGOs: Implications for Leadership Development and Social Responsibility

Abstract

This concept paper proposes the Exposure–Engagement–Empowerment (EEE) model to explain how youth participation in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fosters leadership development and social responsibility. Through a thematic synthesis of existing literature, the paper finds that NGOs provide experiential platforms for youth to acquire essential leadership skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. NGO involvement also supports ethical awareness, civic identity, and a justice-oriented mindset capacities often underdeveloped in formal education systems. Furthermore, the paper highlights structural barriers such as unequal access, tokenistic involvement, and lack of institutional recognition that limit the impact of NGO engagement. It concludes that integrating NGO participation into youth development frameworks can strengthen leadership pathways and foster a generation of socially conscious, ethically grounded leaders.