Introduction

I am not the first person, or indeed the last, to seek to question the systems and structures under which our children are raised. Nor am I the first (or last) to seek to critique the role and understanding of philanthropy in our society. Nonetheless, I do hope this book brings a renewed focus on the role of children as change makers through the lens of philanthropy and philanthropic citizenship.

In this book I have sought to question how we raise our children as philanthropic citizens. Philanthropy, often associated with power and privilege, is a subject of intense debate and criticism. While acknowledging these concerns, I argue for a shift in focus towards the central question of what it means to be philanthropic and why it matters. While Chapters 1 and 2 seek to outline some of the concepts and challenges behind these ideas, Chapters 3– 7 focus on the spaces and places in which children can begin their philanthropic and citizenship journey, but, as argued, too often framed in a very particular discourse. Chapters 8 and 9 focus more on engaging children in collective action, community empowerment and change making, while Chapter 10 draws on the voices of civil society leaders to consider: where next? Across these chapters I have sought to challenge traditional views of philanthropic engagement, especially in terms of how children are socialised into philanthropic behaviours, and I have advocated for a model of children's philanthropic citizenship that encourages different ways of engagement rooted in critical thinking, collective action and social justice.

Ultimately this book argues that fostering an active and thriving civil society is crucial for a fair and just world. Therefore, in this last chapter I will outline what I think (some of) the most pressing tasks are that lie ahead of us all within the philanthropic ecosystem:

• 1. We must hold, and indeed defend, the space for children and young people (and us all) to consider, debate, deliberate, voice and act on issues they care about.

• 2. We need to ensure we challenge and continue to challenge institutionalised notions of what is seen as good and selfless, and support children and young people's critical engagement in the causes that matter to them.