Explore Courses
Top University
Elina
20 July, 2024
Table of Contents
International Youth Day is celebrated worldwide on the 12th of August. The purpose of celebrating this occasion is to throw light on the difficulties and challenges that are largely faced by young people across the world. Millions of children fall in the age bracket of six to thirteen years of age and still lack the basic access to education like learning the basic mathematics, or reading skills. This problem is not restricted to any country but is a global issue that persists due to poverty.
It was the United Nations that took the initiative to celebrate the International Youth Day. This was done to create awareness and specifically target the youth. The day is also celebrated for taking action to bring an impactful change. Many concerts, workshops and cultural events are organised for people to witness and be a part of.
The world we are living in undergoes constant changes. There is a need for innovation and introducing technological advancements to the world but at the same time, this enthusiasm is posing problems and challenges. At present, there are more challenges than the solutions to meet them. There are more people and fewer resources to secure them and the only way to deal with all these problems is to ensure that the human resource is at its peak. The youth is often considered as the future of the nation for each country.
Every country’s most valuable resource would be its youth and the young adult population keeping in mind the enthusiasm and problem-solving abilities these two segments of the population have. As a result, they are the most resourceful and trustworthy people the country relies on. The youth can be called the hope for this world’s future. The most unique ability that sets the youth apart from every other age bracket is the familiarity it has with technological changes and the speed at which it accepts change. Going forward, one of the biggest challenges that will accompany us will be the acceptance of change and transformation that comes with the new-age developments. As a result, the youth will be able to adapt faster and more easily.
Back in 1985, the United Nations celebrated its first-ever International Year of Youth. The United Nations General Assembly went on to adopt the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), a list of all the policies and guidelines that the countries have to adhere to while they look into the youth’s situation worldwide. Only in the year 2000, however, we as a nation began celebrating International Youth Day. The World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) and its policies and guidelines influence the way International Youth Day is celebrated. It can be called the driving force of the International Youth Day event.
The World Programme of Action for Youth is built with the idea of guiding, supporting, empowering and improving the nations in order to create favourable conditions for the young crowd. The organisation lays emphasis on the actions taken to improve the opportunities that are available for the youth. This is a motivational factor to drive the youth and inspire them to be more proactive while they also participate in society and contribute more effectively. This programme further, focuses on the realities that younger people have to face within their country. This encourages the youth around the world and makes them more aware.
At present, we are living in a world that has witnessed the maximum number of people in the youth category given the historical background. People are beginning to recognise the youth for its true, original potential and maximise it for their benefit. In a message about International Youth Day, Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, writes,
“Young people are not only our future—they are our present…They are the most connected, the most outspoken and the most open-minded generation the world has ever seen.”
The abilities such as being outspoken or open-minded are perhaps the most valued traits of the youth. There is an increasing demand for people to be more authentic in terms of the work they do and the way they interact. There is a lack of value given to being more diplomatic and dishonest only to create a favourable impression. The connectivity that the youth holds is also more efficient in connecting with people who have similar interests in bringing a change making it easier to unite. However, while these factors make it easier for the youth to come together and build a change, it can get tough and challenging given the impact that is limited due to several barriers.
In terms of resources and facilities, not every corner of the world is the same. Some places own resources in surplus while others lack even the most basic amenities problems such as lack of resources, education, food, clean drinking water, and more such basic facilities. This is the result of poverty diseases and the lack of supervision to ensure that the resources are divided and utilised more judiciously. Poverty is like a vicious cycle that not only traps the youth into it but also their power to think and the ability to be creative. It kills their dreams and potential. Once their childhood begins in poverty, their youth days automatically drown due to the burden of responsibilities.
Basic literacy, reading and writing skills are often not emphasized. When the skills and knowledge are not imparted and simply millions are spent on schemes without actually looking into the effect they have on the ground level, the youth often leads the way to gangs, drugs and other undesirable harmful activities.
The youth is considered the hope for tomorrow. It is what the countries and their aspirations depend on. The youth is not just a group of individuals, but it is the future we fathom- a future of sustainability. It is what we wish to see when the years progress. In a world where the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of resources are the thieves of pure talent and opportunities, we need to combat the problems that pose a threat to our bright future and the dreams that have the potential to come true. The youth is that reliable group of people who we aspire to see take the world forward and ensure that unity transcends the international geographical barriers to come together and celebrate what we call the true essence of Humanity.
The theme for International Youth Day, 2024 is Youth as Catalysts for Change: Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” This is a theme that focuses on bringing forward the role young people play in the context of global issues, specifically the sustainable solutions for our planet.
Since this occasion is an initiative that is taken to honour the youngsters and celebrate their traits keeping in mind the challenges they face, it is significant to them as it helps eliminate issues that hamper the growth of the youth and their success. It ensures that the youth is able to successfully access the right kinds of resources such as education, healthcare, etc. so that their well-being is not compromised.
Pope John Paul II introduced World Youth Day to the young people and underlined its importance as a day of hope.
The idea for International Youth Day was brought forward in 1991 by the young people who were first gathered in Vienna, Austria on the occasion of the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System.
There are many countries that participate in this global event. The events are diverse and mainly include youth conferences on concerns such as education and employment. Other activities include concerts promoting the world’s youth, as well as various sporting events, parades and mobile exhibitions that showcase young people’s achievements.
