International Youth Day is celebrated on 12th August. The celebration focuses on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing throughout the world. About 50% of the children between the age of six and 13 lack basic reading and math skills and childhood poverty is still a prevalent problem globally. International Youth Day was created by the UN to help draw awareness to these issues as we strive to find solutions. It’s a day for reflection but also a day for taking action so get involved. One of the key issues that many youths are fighting against is climate change. Global warming, when not taken seriously, will affect the youths in the future.
International Youth Day began in 2000 and was organized by the UN to recognize the input that young people make in education, community development, environmental groups, volunteering for different social projects.
History of International Youth Day
The United Nations General Assembly in 1965 began making a concerted effort to impact the youth. They endorsed the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples. They began devoting time and resources to empower the youth by recognizing up-and-coming leaders and offering them resources to meet the needs of the world.
On December 17, 1999, the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, and International Youth Day was formed. It was first celebrated on August 12, 2000, and ever since the day has been used to educate society.
The theme this year’s International Youth Day is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.
#ItIsOurDay.
#Let’sBeYouthActivists
