Abstract
Young people across the globe are developing civic beliefs and participating in society in diverse and multicultural contexts. Participatory approaches to civic development are designed to teach civics through authentic civic experiences. This chapter will highlight two participatory approaches: youth participatory action research (YPAR) and action civics (AC). Theory and evidence for both approaches is reviewed and illustrative case studies are presented. The YPAR case study features a project called Ethiopia 360, which aims to increase contraceptive uptake among 15–19-year-old women in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. The AC case study features Generation Citizen, a school-based youth civic engagement intervention for middle and high school students operating in many states across the United States. YPAR and AC are promising avenues for meaningfully engaging youth in civic activities to address cultural complexities.