Culture is an important part of who we all are. It gives us a sense of belonging, that others share our values and beliefs, to know who we are and where we come from.
Culture includes all the customs, practices, languages, values and world views that define our social groups – whether those are based on nationality, ethnicity, region or common interests.
We know cultural identity is important for people’s sense of self, belonging and how they relate to others. A strong cultural identity can contribute to people’s overall wellbeing. For children and young people, developing a positive cultural identity is linked to protective factors against risks to their wellbeing, and resillience from adverse situations.
Despite knowing cultural identity and belonging is important, we know very little about how young people understand, value and express their culture. So we asked them.
We wanted to hear how children and young people feel about their culture when they have positive connections to it.