One more year we are celebrating the International Youth Day, a very special day to remember and feel inspired about our new generations. The world is changing so fast, and we are living in the Digital Era and youth people are adapting so quickly. Nowadays, we have more opportunities – at least in Europe – to go to the university, learn more languages and develop our personal and professional skills. But also, young people realize that they need to be part of this world, making an impact and fighting for a better future. Youth people need to be antiracist, feminist, LGTB friendly and ecologist.
We are changing the rules of the game. What is more, youth people are participating directly in political, economic, and social life and processes. An example of this is the climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg who spent the last few years fighting climate change. Or the activist Ivett Ördög who has been fighting for LGBT rights in Berlin since he had to flee his country, Hungary. From Spain we have Nuria Varela, she is a writer and journalism specialist in feminism that fight against the gender discrimination. So many new faces that are working to have a better future for the next generations.
We are changing the rules of the game. What is more, youth people are participating directly in political, economic, and social life and processes. An example of this is the climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg who spent the last few years fighting climate change. Or the activist Ivett Ördög who has been fighting for LGBT rights in Berlin since he had to flee his country, Hungary. From Spain we have Nuria Varela, she is a writer and journalism specialist in feminism that fight against the gender discrimination. So many new faces that are working to have a better future for the next generations.
But also, we are an example, all of us. European Solidarity Corps gave us the opportunity to be a volunteer at Praxis Greece, an NGO where we are developing our professional skills, meeting people from different countries and growing as people. We are so different but also, we have a lot of similarities, and we are working together, helping each other, and creating an impact in the society.
We must keep growing and trusting in young people because they are the future. But we also need them to make more policies thinking about youth’s necessities; we need more and better opportunities in the labor market, we need more money to be invested in education and we need culture to be accessible to everyone.
To end, about the history of this day, in 1999, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. As you can find in the UNESCO’s website the International Youth Day (IYD) gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal, and equitable engagement. So, create your own impact in the world!
We must keep growing and trusting in young people because they are the future. But we also need them to make more policies thinking about youth’s necessities; we need more and better opportunities in the labor market, we need more money to be invested in education and we need culture to be accessible to everyone.
To end, about the history of this day, in 1999, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. As you can find in the UNESCO’s website the International Youth Day (IYD) gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal, and equitable engagement. So, create your own impact in the world!
IRIA TORRES GUTIERREZ
Iria is a Spanish volunteer in Praxis organisation involved in the Youth Day.
