How young people can fight corruption

As we marked International Youth Day a few weeks ago, let us celebrate the amazing young people around the world who are standing up to corruption and demanding better from those with power.

Corruption can hold back young people from achieving their potential. It drains funds from classrooms and health clinics, blocks opportunities and erodes trust. Research by Transparency Internation has found that young people are often more exposed to corruption than adults. In the high-stakes education sector, for example, corruption can include bribery and favoritism in admissions, collusive cheating in examinations, bid rigging and diversion of school supplies, as well as sexual corruption by teachers.

It's inspiring to see how many young people are taking action to challenge the injustices they see, by tracking public budgets, reviewing public data, speaking up and demanding transparent policies and improved public services. Let’s celebrate youth-led, local solutions from around the world that are turning integrity into daily practice and delivering real change.

A recent youth-led forum in Jordan connected youth and decision-makers, paving the way for future collaboration and impact.

In Jordan, young people have just taken part in a Youth Integrity Forum organized by Rasheed (Transparency International Jordan), the final step in a rich educational journey that started with Integrity Schools and an Integrity Academy. Throughout the program, young people have been developing their skills and confidence to be able to push for integrity and accountability from public authorities, plus practical tools to boost participation, citizenship and leadership.

During the forum, young participants met government officials and experts and worked on practical recommendations to strengthen institutional transparency, boost digital accountability and foster an inclusive political system. Discussions ranged from peace, justice and strong institutions to media independence and the governance of political parties.

In Indonesia, young people have been collaborating with Transparency International Indonesia, who are committed to ensuring that young people have a voice in governance decisions that affect them. Together, they have identified priority programs for oversight, built local capacity and influenced regional development plans. An exciting milestone was the Youth Integrity Bootcamp, which trained 28 young leaders from seven provinces in procurement oversight, corruption risks mapping and budget management. Graduates are now monitoring important national programmes, from the free nutritious meal initiative to major infrastructure. In addition, 100 young people are now involved in planning and monitoring services, making local governance more transparent and accountable.

Young people everywhere want a fairer future and are willing to play their part in ending corruption. They’re not just preparing to lead – they already are. I am convinced that when we invest in young people, communities grow stronger and we all win.

Let’s look at 8 ways young people can fight corruption:

1.         Follow the money -  Governments have vast sums of public money to spend and this can pose a serious corruption link. By keeping tabs on government expenditure, you can help shed light on how taxes are spent and expose any abuses.

2.         Count supplies -  Schools receive lots of supplies from government, like text books, lab equipment or other necessities. It’s not rocket science to compare what has been bought and what has been delivered.

3.         Develop tech solutions - If you are tech-savvy, you can help communities document cases of corruption by developing platforms. Social media, in particular, is an effective way to address corruption at real time.

4.         Draw comics and cartoons - Comics are a powerful way of raising awareness about anti-corruption. Through a combination of images and text, comics can also spark debate.

5.         Raise awareness through with sports - What’s your favorite sport? From running against corruption to scoring a goal for transparency, you can raise your community’s anti-corruption awareness through any sport you want.

6.         Join youth groups - Youth groups share their disapproval of corruption and are found at local and national levels.

7.         Pay ‘zero’ bribes - The ‘zero currency’ note is a visual aid that encourages people to say ‘no’ to corrupt officials who demand a bribe.

8.         Protest - Protest events are a way for citizens and groups to come together in public to show large scale support for or opposition to a particular issue.

In conclusion, we definitely need the support of the youth in fighting for democracy and against corruption. I was delighted to the Global Youth Summit 2025 attracted 33,600 youth changemakers from schools, organizations, and communities – both on-ground and online – at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 3. Those are the next-generation leaders!

I look forward to your comments; contact me at [email protected]