By Sr. Taskila Nicholas, Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace
Sr. Taskila Nicholas explores how Generation Z’s activism, digital creativity, and call for inclusion invites the Good Shepherd community to embrace co-creation—journeying with young people in mutual listening, innovation, and shared mission for justice and compassion.
“We’re not the future. We’re the now.” This slogan captures the heart of Generation Z. A generation of digital natives, having no experience or memory of a pre-internet world. Their formative years were marked by significant global and social changes—climate collapse, inequality, evolving gender norms, digital surveillance, and political instability. Gen Z is the most diverse generation in terms of ethnicity, identity, and social attitudes; they tend to value authenticity, inclusion, and innovation. Unlike millennials, who embraced public online sharing, Gen Z favors more private and temporary digital interactions, such as through Snapchat, TikTok, or Instagram.
Global connectedness and outspoken opinions are characteristics of Gen Z. This generation is using digital tools, art, and activism to protest social ills: climate change, corruption, gender inequality, racial injustice, education inequity, and inadequate governance. Young people are rewriting what activism looks like. They live-stream protests, turn climate anxiety into graphics, and organize campaigns through memes and podcasts. This isn’t rebellion, it’s young form of citizenship that uses imagination, builds solutions, and co-creates with inclusivity
I have seen young people in Nepal leading movements for cleaner governance and freedom of expression. Likewise, in Madagascar, youth groups are coming together to address deforestation, gender inequality, and access to education. They don’t wait for funding proposals; they launch change with smartphones and solidarity. They do this even amid environments of political instability and violence.
For our sisters and partners, who have spent decades championing dignity, education, and justice, this generational wave is a summons to evolve. This is the moment to encounter Gen Z where they are, and journey alongside them.
Our zeal calls us to a shift in understanding, to recognize the values of a new generation’s priorities and communication styles. With a new mindset we can join dynamic spaces where young people design, lead, participate, and innovative. We become instruments in identifying their voices and amplifying them while guiding them in values of non-violence, respect for all, mercy and compassion.
The youth of today call us to embody qualities such as the direct involvement of young people, transparency, digital engagement, co-creation, attention to mental health, and commitment to social inclusion. Increasingly, our ministries must evolve to invite participants to co-design initiatives, even within our religious formation, where most of the new members belong to Gen Z.
Pope Francis reminded us, “A synodal church is a listening church, aware that listening is more than hearing. It is a reciprocal listening in which each one has something to learn.” To accompany Gen Z means to live this synodality, to walk with them in shared purpose, mutual listening, and co-creation.
Imagine each Good Shepherd program becoming an Empowerment Workspace. For example, the direct involvement of the youth and children in the recent online celebration of the International Day of the Girl in Asia Pacific as well as at the UN, were Good Shepherd led initiatives and dynamic spaces speaking to gender justice. Such initiatives and networks nurture the young and build a safer future. We can also recognize and help stabilize struggles with anxiety, climate fears, and economic uncertainty. We can create safe space for dialogue, programs that combine space to give voice for rights along with skill-building.
Beneath all, we sense that Gen Z carries a deep emotional weight of climate grief, atmospheres of violence, anxiety, burnout and pressure to save the environment. With our long experience in pastoral care and trauma-informed service, we are well positioned to offer what this generation craves most – social inclusion, mental health, well-being, belonging, and healing. We share with Gen Z the importance and the necessity of the spiritual value of Synodality. As Gen Z rises with courage, we are called to become companions on the road to holistic development and Justice.
As I continue to consider our mission and Gen Z. I invite you, the readers, to share your thoughts, experiences and reflections in understanding, learning from, and supporting this newer generation’s values and hopes and worries.
Send your thoughts to me, I am happy to hear from you: Taskila.n@gsijp.org
