DWARS and GroenLinks present: give young people a future to look forward to

DWARS and GroenLinks want the next coalition agreement to be tested on promoting equal opportunities for young people and the impact on climate. This generational test will ensure that a stacking of policies does not hit young people disproportionately hard. That is why DWARS and GroenLinks are presenting the youth plan "A future to look forward to". The youth plan contains ideas to give young people a fair start.

Insecurity and inequality among young people have increased over the past decade. Numerous studies and publications confirm this. DWARS and GroenLinks want to stop this trend. Young people should be able to live affordably again with more job security and a decent wage. Studying should also be possible without stress. The loan system will be replaced by an income-dependent student grant and the loan generation will be compensated.

Generation key

Jesse Klaver, group chairman GroenLinks: "Young people are more idealistic, but also more stressed than ever. Our society has become a performance society. I speak to young people about this a lot. We don't pay enough attention to how a combination of policies negatively affects one generation. With a generation test, I want young people to be able to judge a next coalition agreement for themselves on what it does for their opportunities and for our planet."

Sabine Scharwachter, president DWARS: "We are the generation to rebuild the economy after the corona crisis and solve the climate crisis. But you cannot do that without a steady job or a roof over your head. Many young people now live in great uncertainty about their future and struggle with mental health problems. That is why radical and structural changes are needed. We are glad that GroenLinks is putting young people first and will fight for our future at the formation table."

Start-up capital

The plan for a starting capital of 10,000 euros for every 18-year-old, has been further developed with young people since its launch. Young people indicated that 18 is sometimes too young to make wise choices and that at this age it can put too much pressure on families with debt problems. For the first five years, the start-up capital can therefore only be used for tuition fees, fees or study costs.

Jesse Klaver: "With our plan for start-up capital, we have put the growing inequality of opportunities on the map. More and more people are realising that even in the Netherlands your opportunities are determined by where you are born, what your parents earn and whether you go to university. We are serious about our idea of a fair start for all young people. We have listened carefully to all feedback and in consultation with young people we have made this idea even better."

The initial capital will be financed by requiring millionaires to pay a solidarity contribution: millionaires will pay an additional 1% in taxes on their assets every year, multimillionaires 2%.

Read more about this plan here

To produce "A future to look forward to", GroenLinks and DWARS spoke with, among others:

Shannah den Engelsen, Youth Organisation for Vocational Education (JOB): "As an interest group for mbo students, we think it is important to think thoroughly about the quality of their future. Students are increasingly educated but have fewer prospects for a nice and independent life. This plan offers perspective to the younger generation. This can motivate and encourage them to study, without worrying about high student debt!"

Dahran Çoban, Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg (ISO): "It is nice that young people have the opportunity to invest in themselves and that the focus is on education. Education should be about your own development and not clouded by mounting debt."

Lyle Muns, National Union of Students (LSVb): "With rising student debt and housing costs, this generation of young people needs a substantial investment to get out of the crisis. Our #NotMyDebt campaign aims at debt-free study. This package is a good step in that direction."

Nienke Luikckx, Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren (LAKS): "Opportunity inequality is a deep-rooted problem in Dutch education. It is important to expose these issues and provide solutions so that tomorrow's schoolchildren can reap the benefits."

Bas van Weegberg, FNV Young & United: "In the labour market, housing market and also in education, young people are starting from behind. In our #NotMyDebt campaign, students are making themselves heard for a secure future without a loan system and with the possibility of debt-free graduation. Our generation deserves a rock-solid start."