4 > Next Generation Myanmar EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Youth in Myanmar have inherited a very different country to that of their parents. Today’s young people can vote in competitive elections, use modern communications technology and work in an economy emerging from decades of isolation. Myanmar’s political and economic opening may allow today’s youth, defined here as people aged 18–30, to chart the country’s future in ways unavailable to previous generations. Despite this potential, youth opinion has seldom been examined as an object of study. Existing research may account for youth behaviour in particular policy areas, but rarely details the attitudes, aspirations and concerns of young people. To date, no study has attempted to answer the question: what do youth across Myanmar think? Next Generation Myanmar aims to address this research gap. Through interviews, group discussions and a national survey of more than 2,000 youth, this study provides a detailed account of the worldview of youth. Its findings, summarised below, amplify the voice of Myanmar youth, bringing them from the margins of the country’s democratic transition to the fore. Opportunities and expectations towards life Over three-quarters (76 per cent) of youth felt their quality of life would improve in the next five years, citing training opportunities and greater freedoms as reasons for their optimism. Youth qualified this positive outlook with concerns about drug use, social media, parental restrictions and unemployment. About one in four (26 per cent) of survey respondents said they were jobless and searching for work. 1 > The Myanmar parliament. Values and identity Youth surveyed in this study felt family was most important in life, above money, work and education. Youth felt religion was less important than personal accomplishments, and in many cases downplayed its role in national identity. Despite this, many youth reported to have experienced religious discrimination. About one in five survey respondents (21 per cent) said they had concrete and recent experience of discrimination based on their faith. Roughly the same number of respondents (19 per cent) said they had concrete and recent experience of discrimination based on their ethnicity. Discrimination against other personal characteristics, such as one’s level of education, job, wealth and language, was also common. Social engagement Nine out of ten (90 per cent) survey respondents felt that making contributions to their societies or communities was important to them. Eighty-five per cent agreed that youth have a responsibility to involve themselves in addressing community issues. Many youth complained that financial concerns and strict parenting prevent them from participating in civic activity as much as they would like. They explained that for many parents, any activity beyond religious service or ethnic preservation activities seems like political activism, and is thus discouraged out of concern for youth safety. Young women in particular feel greater restrictions are placed on them than on their male peers. Many female discussion participants felt that curfews and travel limits make it difficult to remain socially engaged. Attitudes towards institutions Youth largely approved of the actions of local government in their areas. When asked about the actions of their local/ village administrations, 72 per cent of respondents approved of them. At township level, 58 per cent approved of the actions of the civilian administration, and 59 per cent of respondents approved of the actions of the military administration (the General Administration Department). Fewer youth approved of the actions of regional/state- or Union-level government in their areas. Notably, state governments were the least approved bodies among youth surveyed, with only 54 per cent of respondents reporting to approve of the Union Hluttaw’s1 actions. Youth explained that these institutions were too ‘far flung’ from their daily lives. Youth approved of civil society and community-based organisations more than non-governmental organisations, with some citing sustainability concerns.