Ashoka
We at Ashoka believe that our connection with nature shapes everything — our cities, how we grow up, and the future we create together.
That’s why many Ashoka Fellows, young changemakers, schools, researchers, and parents, and practitioners came together to launch this global effort to better understand how young people connect with nature — how it makes them feel, how they care for it, and how this bond (or disconnection) shapes our world.
For the first time, our survey will examine the links between a young person’s connection to nature, the way they show up for it, and how that makes them feel.
We want to hear directly from young people between the ages of 10-19. But we also understand that people being asked to promote this survey might have some questions. Of course you do!
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
What questions will you be asking young people?
We ask a series of questions about one connects with nature, what prevents them for spending more time in nature, competencies like curiosity or empathy for nature, how they are feeling, how they and the people around them are showing up for the environment, and the name of the closest big city so we can make general observations about global similarities and differences.
These questions are based on various existing frameworks and assessment tools, namely BeNature, ACHUNAS, the Ashoka Changemaker Index, and the WHO-5.
What personal data is collected, if any?
We are not collecting personal data. We do ask the year in which the survey respondent was born to ensure that we only keep data form those 10 and older, and to focus our research on those between the ages of 10-19.
Can I take the survey myself just to see?
Yes! Anyone can take the survey. When asked for your year of birth we’ll know that you were responding as an adult and we will keep your response out of our final analysis.
Where will the data be stored and how will it be shared?
PlayVerto designed the survey system and hosts the data. Given that the data is not personal and all responses are anonymous, we can share it with third party collaborators like university researchers and collaborating organizations. We expect that reports based on these findings will be shared at global climate events and in academic journals.
Where can I learn more about PlayVerto and their privacy policies?
On their website and here.
Can my school or org be recognized as a collaborator?
Yes! If you want to be named in our preliminary report to be shared at COP30 in Brazil in November, please sign on as a collaborator here.
Where can I find some promotional materials?
Promotional materials in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili are available here.
Any other questions?
Feel free to reach out to Simon on Ashoka’s People & Planet team. He’s reachable at [email protected].
Thank you! Whether the results of this survey substantiate an intuitive understanding you already have, or help us make a convincing argument where one might still be needed, we thank you for your efforts to help build this diverse, global dataset and drive more awareness and demand for strong connections between young people and the living world.