Here’s a brief introduction of the international youth day;
International youth day, celebrated every year on August 12th , is an occasion to recognize and celebrate the contributions and potential of young people around the world. This day is a chance to raise awareness about the challenges, and opportunities facing young people, and to engage in meaningful dialogue and action to promote their empowerment.
The day recognizes the importance of young people in society and their potential to shape the world's future. Established by the United Nations in 1999, the theme of International Youth Day varies each year, focusing on a pertinent issue affecting youth and aiming to inspire positive change.
With nearly 1.8 billion young people around the world, their energy, creativity, and enthusiasm hold the key to solving complex global problems. The United Nations recognizes the significance of engaging and empowering youth to foster social progress, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Each year, International Youth Day is on a specific theme that addresses pertinent issues faced by young people. Themes are chosen to promote dialogue, raise awareness, and drive action. Some past themes include:
Youth Building Peace (2017): Highlighting the role of young people in conflict prevention and transformation.
Safe Spaces for Youth (2018): Emphasizing the need for safe environments that enable youth to express themselves, share ideas, and participate in decision-making.
Transforming Education (2019): Focusing on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all youth
Youth Engagement for Global Action (2020): Recognizing youth engagement as essential for driving positive change on a global scale.
Resilient Youth, Resilient Future (2021): Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and their resilience in overcoming challenges.
The impact of international youth day is;
Raising awareness about youth issues: international youth day helps to shine light on challenges, opportunities facing young people including poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
Empowering young people: the day serves as a platform for young people to speak up and advocate for their rights and needs, and to take an active role in shaping policies and decisions that affect their lives.
Building partnerships: International youth day provides an opportunity for youth-led organizations, governments and the private sector to come together and collaborate on initiatives that support youth development such as education programs, job training, and entrepreneurship support.
It is also a platform used to advocate for issues such as climate change, gender equality, and mental health. It is also an opportunity for young people around the world to connect through events and activities.
Activities, events that happen on this day include: conferences, community events, online campaigns, talent shows, art exhibits, volunteer projects such as clean up exercises and so on.
International youth day is a celebration of the power and potential of young people to create a better world. It's a day to acknowledge, amplify the voices of young people, to listen to their concerns, and to work together towards a positive change. As we look into the future, let's remember that young people are the change makers of tomorrow(today) and that by investing in their development and empowering them to shape the world, we can build a brighter future for all.
