In an ever-changing world, anticipating future challenges of the generations to come is paramount for child and youth advocacy organisations. Through a foresight and highly participatory exercise IARAN produced The Future of Children and Youth in 2030 report aimed to shed a light on the multiple world realities that could impact capacity of humanitarian organisations focused on the wellbeing of children and youth incoming years. This foresight analysis culminates in four distinctive scenarios capturing potential world realities in which not only humanitarian organisations - but also boys, girls and young people - could thrive or face higher challenges.

Escalating impacts of climate change, conflict, insecurity, inflation crisis, food insecurity and weakening protection for children’s right over the last years have produced severe impacts in the long-term well-being of children and youth worldwide. In middle of the crises to come, we must be forward-looking into where organisational resources and efforts are employed to improve the situation of the most vulnerable children and youth across the globe.

To contribute to this strategic gap, IARAN has captured the results of extensive participatory sessions and consultations with children advocacy experts to explore and identify the myriads of challenges faced at the global scale and provide a comprehensive outlook leading to strategic outcomes various levels of interventions.

FOUR POSSIBILITIES AHEAD

ThIS report presents four future scenarios carefully crafted as the result of a highly participative foresight exercise:

Bringing scenarios to life

In order to give life to each of these potential world realities, a design fiction documentary titled ‘Shot4future’ was conducted portraying each of the four scenarios through human stories as envisioned by Movimento Giovani (an Italian youth movement) for Save the Children Italy. The film takes an intimate look at the struggles and triumphs of diverse young individuals confronting societal challenges across Italy. Through a blend of narrative realism and visionary storytelling, it explores themes of justice, resilience, and community in the face of adversity.

Each story - from Rafa's courtroom victory (Optimistic future), Agnese's personal revelations (Isolated tensions), Stella's crisis of conscience (Emerging dynamics), to Giacomo's fiery protest (Growing inertia) - paints a compelling picture of a future shaped by the actions and decisions of today. Witness how ordinary lives intertwine with the larger socio-political landscape, pushing towards either despair or hope.

Join us in this foresight study and cinematic journey of reflection and revolution, where every choice matters in shaping tomorrow.

Acknowledgement

This foresight analysis was done for Save the Children Italy as part of a futures ready strategy development. We have adapted the results of this study to make a public version of the foresight analysis.