Can youth contribute to "adult" topics?

Sometimes I ask myself this question too.
My first intention is to scream YES of course. Youth is the future. Youth is the hope.
But does youth have enough space in society, in every day life? Do we show them enough patience to learn and by that show us what are they capable to do?
Youth needs to want to participate in everyday life.
But then I start to hesitate - do they really want to? I worked with group of youth that consider themselves not educated/clever enough to have the right to vote. They are not interested in politics and they really believe they are JUST youth. I am hitting the bells and screaming WAKE UP! Adults, youth is the part of society - the inspirative and powerfull part.
For all those who dont believe I have a proof.
I took part on a conference - "Get to know your finances".
Conference where secondary schools girls and boys took part, contributes along with their teachers and professionals. They were talking about money, savings, how to solve the pensions funds. In the age of 17! That was amazing. And I can really tell that they know what they were talking about. And it prooved that definitely youth belongs to the society.
No one should ever question that.
just give wind to their wings and they will fly!