This weekend, young writers and activists from around the world will gather in San Francisco for the International Congress of Youth Voices. As part of the Guardian’s partnership with the project, we asked delegates to tell us what they believe the world gets wrong about their generation.

‘Self-absorbed and materialistic’

A general consensus of the older generations is that Generation Z is self-absorbed or materialistic, but anyone that takes so much as a brief peek into our lives knows the opposite is true. Sure, we are very social-media oriented, but we use social media to educate ourselves and each other about a political climate that thrives on our ignorance. Ignorance equals complacency and we refuse to be complacent any longer.

Ryann Morelli, 18, US





‘Naive and cowardly’

Many people think of my generation as naive and cowardly. Though political correctness can be clumsy sometimes, I think this may be due to the fact that this is our world’s first attempt at a formally inclusive language.

Vivian Pham, 17, Australia





‘We’re lucky’



I think there is an assumption that activism and commitment to visible social justice comes with ease in my generation. Many people assume a hegemony of opinion and openness among youth, which minimizes the bravery and work it takes to be seen and heard as a young person. For me, even in a room full of people from my generation, I have to choose my words carefully in order to simply remain safe. Adults will regularly tell young people about how lucky we are that the world has changed so much that we are able to do things like come out, hold protests, confront authority. While the progression of the world has definitely benefited us, there is a lack of acknowledgment of the presence of resistance to difference, change, or the amplification of marginalized people. We are not given safety and platforms to speak – we create them.

Leila Mottley, 16, US





‘Idealistic’

I find most people mistake our concern for global issues as idealism, and are unwilling to engage in any form of rigorous, meaningful debate as a result.

Sean Farrelly, 21, Ireland





The March for Our Lives rally in Seattle, Washington. Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images

‘The snowflake generation’



My generation is condescendingly called the “snowflake generation” by people who characterize us as caught up in the idea of our own uniqueness and individuality but fragile and unable to deal with conflict and differing opinions. I don’t think what is dismissed as oversensitivity is necessarily a bad thing if it means we are less callous about human suffering than previous generations. With the recent abortion referendum in Ireland, I have witnessed first-hand that my generation is willing and strong enough to fight for the issues that they believe in.

Robyn Gill, 20, Ireland





‘We will be fine’

Most people think our generation will be fine when I know we will not. Most people think climate change affects other people in other parts of the world, that it will never hit them at home. We will face exceptional droughts, floods, wildfires and food shortages. Water, as we can already see in places like California and South Africa, is becoming a more elusive resource by the day. We will have to deal with mass immigration, climate educed humanitarian disasters (Puerto Rico) and a daunting political challenge. This will not be easy for us, and I am quite frankly disappointed that those in older generations think we are overreacting and that we have nothing to worry about.

Edgar McGregor, 17, US





‘Spoiled children’

Often, we are described as being simply driven by narcissism. I believe that many of our parents have been way more nursing about us than any of their ancestors have been with their children – but behind every spoiled child hides a million feelings of pressure and doubt. Doubt – especially in a time where we are given a labyrinth of possibilities. That can lead us to be more self-concerned when all adults around us and institutions (social media as well) demand us to choose-choose-choose what we are, what we can, what we cannot. I believe we are a generation of young people with integrity and curiosity – interesting in fighting for our values and actually very independent due to the fact that our parents have more involved us in their discussions – seen us as equal conversation partners and asked us more questions, rather than just giving us the answers as my grandparents would have done.

Elizabeth Schultz-Lorentzen Holstein, 21, Denmark





‘Apathetic’

Apathetic: this is the most common word that people use to describe my generation. It is almost automatically assumed that we are overly sensitive, indifferent, and uneducated about the issues. The reality is our sensitivity and political correctness comes from a place of understanding and awareness. Our generation is the most educated and willing to take action of any generation before us, because we have to. We are living with the mistakes that generations before us created and never had to deal with, from climate change to unsafe food systems and corporate control of so much of the world we know. People always tell me we are the future, we are the leaders of tomorrow. I say we are the now and we are the leaders of today.

Rachel Parent, 19, Canada





‘Too young to understand’

People think we’re too young to understand what’s going on with the world and we’re too young to do anything about it. This past year when Parkland happened and the March for our Lives movement emerged, I was told multiple times by adults and teachers that I didn’t know what I was talking about and I shouldn’t even be talking about it. I’ve experienced the same situation when it comes to racism and sexism. I’m repeatedly told to sit down and shut up when I try to talk. I’ve even heard some people say that young people have too much a voice. But we are the future. We have things to say, and we are more than capable of doing that.

Daphne Constantinides, 18, US





‘We have it good’

Some think that we have it good and that we do not aim high. Both are wrong because I’ve had a much tougher childhood than anyone I know and I know I am aiming and working to reach the stars.

Kenan Mirou, 18, Syria

All photos courtesy International Congress of Youth Voices