International Youth Day on August 12 focuses on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing throughout the world. The program encourages youth around the world to organize activities to raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country.
Half the children between the ages 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. There’ll be many concerts, workshops, and cultural events taking place, so have a look at what is happening in your local area.
The theme for this year is 'Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.
The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are "knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society".
The UN established International Youth Day in 2000 to recognize the contributions that young people make to social projects, community development, environmental groups, and education.
International Youth Day is not to be confused with World Youth Day. Pope John Paul II established World Youth Day in 1986 as a call to action for young people to embrace the mission of spreading Christ's love throughout the world. World Youth Day is celebrated each year on Palm Sunday.
International Youth Day is a United Nations-supported celebration, while World Youth Day is a celebration founded within the Catholic tradition. Though technically different celebrations, both International Youth Day and World Youth Day recognize the value of young people across the world.
History of International Youth Day
In 1965, the United Nations General Assembly 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 empowering the youth by recognizing up-and-coming leaders and offering them resources to meet the needs of the world.
The World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth made a recommendation, and the UN General Assembly approved it on December 17, 1999, creating International Youth Day. It was first celebrated on August 12, 2000, and ever since, the day has been used to educate society. Mobilize the youth in politics, and manage resources to address global problems.
Major events frequently occur throughout the day. This theme aimed to call attention to how the participation of young people at the national and international levels complements national and multilateral institutions and processes. Another important aim was to draw lessons on how their involvement in institutional politics can be increased.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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