Youth…a difficult term to define! We all knew, once (at least), this feeling when someone older than you asks « from what age you’re not young anymore? », implying « Am I old for you? », and you don’t know what to answer in order to not hurt the person. 
First, never answer this question, it’s a trap! 
Then, is there a real answer to this question? I mean, can you really choose an age from which you’re not young anymore? Let’s say that this age is 25 years old. It means that when you turn 26 you enter in the circle of the old people? I don’t think we are living in a world like this. 
Let me explain. 

To start, we could maybe take a look at what the organisations like the United Nations say about the youth’s age and the definition. They defined youth as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s indépendance and awareness of our interdependence as numbers of community and for statistical consistency across regions, it defines « youth », as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. 
After this definition, we can see that according to their standards, youth lasts almost ten years but youth is also a notion hard to contain in only one definition. This is why several psychologists wrote about this important topic, trying to define it from different points of vue.
Erik Erikson, one of the most popular psychologists is one of them. In his 'stages of development' he describes the stage of identity vs. role confusion which is said to occur from age 12 to age 18, as a stage in which the individual re-examines his or her identity and tries to find out exactly who he or she is. 
At the same time, Sigmund Freud, in his theory of stages of psychosexual development stated that the fourth and the last stage of development was the genital stage. This stage is set to begin with adolescence (regarded to begin at age 12) and continue throughout the adult years. No specific age at which the period of youth beings and ends were given by him. 
Carl Jung, another giant in the field of psychology, finally stated that the period of youth is a period in which the demands of life harshly put an end to the dreams of childhood and that if an individual is well prepared then the transition to a career can take place smoothly but if the youth is stuck with illusions which are the opposite of reality, then problems arise. To be more specific, Jung defined youth as a period which begins at age 15 and ends at age 40.

As you can notice, depending on the psychologist or, in general, the person, youth doesn’t really fit in one fixed period but it’s more something subjective where everyone has a different opinion and way to think about it. Youth is a large notion so of course you can read and listen to what the professional thinks and says about it but you can also think by yourself and define your own perception of youth.

Maya Audras

Maya is a French volunteer involved in International Youth Day.

There was a specific period during the 2010s when owning a DSLR camera was essential. Having a high-quality camera in the midst of the iPhone 4S boom meant declaring open war on Retrica, PicsArt, and all those apps that made us feel like professional photographers on our phones. It was a time when the Instagram feed was still a mystery, and all that mattered were filters of every kind: black and white, rainbow, galaxy, and the list goes on. In 2014, #nofilter was not an option. The only thing cooler than posting these photos was sharing pictures taken with an actual camera. Nikon or Canon, it didn’t matter; owning a professional camera was enough to grant you entry into the realm of artistic aspirations.

But now, as then, I realize that having a good camera isn’t enough to make you a photographer. So when does one actually become a photographer? When does photography stop being a tool for capturing moments and start becoming something more?

There isn’t a definitive answer. Pierre Bourdieu posed this question in his book Un Art Moyen. His studies focused on analyzing how people practiced photography and how they judged it aesthetically. When Bourdieu wrote the book, it was 1965. Although almost sixty years have passed, I believe the author's initial theory is still highly relevant for contemporary analyses on the subject. Bourdieu talks about photography as an art accessible to everyone and therefore often undervalued and considered of little worth. However, the author goes on to explain that what can or cannot be photographed varies depending on the value system of one’s social class. Bourdieu’s class distinctions may clash with the criteria we use to divide our society today. Yet, I believe that by carefully examining our Instagram profiles, each of us could be placed into a specific category. Without inaugurating a new sociological movement, it’s undeniable that people who fill their feeds with avocado toast and fit checks are not the same as those who post nonsensical carousels filled with memes, blurry photos, and probably videos of sheets flapping on balcony clotheslines.

Just like the peasants, city workers, and office employees in Bourdieu’s study, even today, there are those who consider photography a minor art and others who recognize its aesthetic and artistic value.

The underlying reason why it’s so difficult to determine whether photography can satisfy individual and collective aesthetic ambitions is that it requires little to no preparation. It’s intriguing that this is actually the strength of the practice and the not-so-hidden secret behind its popularity. Everyone can engage in photography, and just as importantly, everyone can be its subject.

The exhibition HerStories. Photographic Practices, 1974-2024 at the Museum of Photography in Thessaloniki is proof of this last statement. Five decades are spread across the museum's rooms, telling the stories of both those immortalized by the lens and those behind it. Forty female artists have explored the complexity of photography when practiced by women. Women’s emancipation, the representation of social and political phenomena through the lens of a camera, and the exploration of photography as a medium are the three narrative threads around which the exhibition is structured.
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The exhibition is a great opportunity to get closer to Greek photography, but it also offers a historical and political overview of the country, without confusing synthesis with superficiality. On the contrary, the exhibition balances text and image, stimulating curiosity and resonating with the viewers. Events like HerStories. Photographic Practices, 1974-2024 must exist to constantly remind us that the importance of photography is not determined by the prestige of the equipment used or the social status of the person behind the lens, but rather by the latter’s ability to tell a story, whether public or private. The greatness of photography lies in its ability to make what is initially foreign seem familiar, introducing us to new aspects of a world that is both near and far at the same time.

Laura Savoini

Laura is an Italian volunteer involved in World Photography Day.

The theme for this International Friendship Day, celebrated on August 12th, 2024, is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” This theme highlights the transformative impact of digitalization on our world, particularly in accelerating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is estimated that digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70 percent of the 169 SDG targets while potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals by up to USD 55 trillion. This progress is largely driven by young people, aged 15 to 24, who are at the forefront of digital adoption and innovation. As "digital natives," they leverage technology to drive change and develop solutions[1].

As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, the role of young people in digital innovation is essential for addressing global issues[2].
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However, disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among young women, who have less access to the internet and digital skills compared to their male counterparts. Even in 2024, there is an urgent need to enhance digital inclusion. A notable example of efforts to reduce inequalities in digital access is the “Young Talent Pipeline,” initiated by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP). This program brings together youth from around the world to create impactful environmental solutions. Launched in 2023, it offers young people between the ages of 27 and 33 the opportunity to contribute to this important work. Chawanagwa Nyirenda, Luis Pineda, and Samantha Dalvalos were part of the first cohort.
 
Chawanagwa Nyirenda's grassroots background with 14 communities in Malawi on climate change adaptation led him to the Young Talent Pipeline. At the end of his UN Volunteer assignment with the Young Talent Pipeline, Chawanagwa developed the UNEP's strategy on loss and damage. He also created a comprehensive stocktake paper to guide the environmental approach.
 
Luis Pineda joined UNEP's Nature-based Solutions team, where he contributed to drafting a proposed resolution on nature-based solutions during the 6th UN Environment Assembly. Although the resolution was not adopted, Luis describes the experience as invaluable for his learning and development: "Being able to co-lead this multi-stakeholder participative process is so far one of the most rewarding experiences of my work in UNEP."
Samantha Dalvalos joined the Young Talent Pipeline with a clear mission: to make an impact and support the global restoration movement. For Samantha, the most rewarding aspect has been gaining insight into the mechanisms that underpin UNEP's decision-making processes[3].

It's more about looking at the big picture and proposing solutions while learning and sharing knowledge — young people at the fore of it all[4].

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[1] United Nations (2024). 2024 Theme: From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development. United Nations. International Youth Day 12 August. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day
[2] “”
[3] United Nation volunteers (2024). Youth volunteers push for nature-based solutions. United Nations volunteers. Retrieved from https://www.unv.org/Success-stories/youth-volunteers-push-nature-based-solutions.
[4] ‘’’’

Sandra Diaferia

Sandra is an Italian volunteer involved in International Youth Day.

Every year since 1991 we celebrate World Photography on the 19th of August to commemorate photography and also to share photos, something very useful to raise awareness about socio-economic challenges or just for the spreading of culture and ideas.

Photography seems nowadays like something very simple since almost everybody has a mobile phone with a camera. The truth is that it was a great revolution back in the days when photography appeared on the international scene during the 19th century. Precisely, the 19th of August of 1837 marks the date of the invention which is the reason why we celebrate this international day. Well, it was 2 years later, in 1839, when the invention was released to the general public by the French Academy of Sciences. Anyway, on this day we recognized the invention of the Daguerreotype by the French artist and photographer, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre.
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Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, better known as Louis Daguerre (Cormeilles-en-Parisis, November 18, 1787 - Bry-sur-Marne, July 10, 1851), was the first to popularize photography, after inventing the daguerreotype, and also worked as a painter and theater decorator. Referring to his invention, the daguerreotype was the first photographic process to be announced and disseminated. It was developed and perfected by the French artist, based on the unpublished previous experiments of Niépce (before 1826), and made known in Paris, at the French Academy of Sciences. Both, the apparatus used to obtain images by daguerreotype and each photograph obtained are known by the name of daguerreotype.

The concept of photography is something that goes from the personal aspect (when we take a photo in a place and/or with someone to have a memory) to the global spotlight, with photography exhibitions rivaling paintings and bringing to the world awareness and realism about death, wars, natural disasters and social problems but also life (including wildlife), natural wonders, beauty and human kindness.

The same process applies to the consecution of World Photography Day. From the personal idea of Indian photographer OP Sharma, in his words to Harmony – Celebrate Age magazine: “The idea came to me in 1988 when, over and over again, in various publications that documented the history of photography, I came across this date: 19 August 1839. It was recorded as the date on which the then French government announced the invention of the Daguerreotype process of photography as a free gift to the world”; to the global celebration that we make every year since Sharma stepped on for it: "I proposed the idea to several masters and photographers around the world, about 150 of them, including the RPS and the Photographic Society of America (PSA)… by the beginning of 1991, everyone took a unanimous decision and we started celebrating World Photography Day that year."

So it’s time to celebrate! Take a photo and share it. Here is mine.

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​And since this is my last article for Praxis… See you soon! Read me again!

Mario Formisano Fernández

Mario is a Spanish volunteer involved in World Photography Day.

​World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, the United Nations General Assembly designated World Humanitarian Day in 2008, in memory of the 22 humanitarian workers killed in the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. The day recognizes the efforts of aid workers who risk their lives to help those in need. In this field there are a few organizations and associations very important who help a lot people around the world, in this article we will talk about 2 of them.
We will start with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks, operating in nearly every country to provide aid without discrimination during conflicts, disasters, and health emergencies. Founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant, the movement adheres to seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies engage in emergency response, disaster preparedness, health services, and promoting humanitarian values.
Another really important organization is the UNFPA, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA focuses on reproductive health and population issues, advocating for the rights of every individual to enjoy health and equal opportunity. UNFPA aims to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. It works on improving reproductive health, reducing maternal mortality, and supporting family planning. Operating in over 150 countries, UNFPA provides services in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and population data collection, partnering with governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
In conclusion, this day highlights the importance of global solidarity to support those in crisis. Organizations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and UNFPA play crucial roles in addressing humanitarian challenges, underscoring the importance of continued commitment and collaboration.

Rodrigo Duarte

Rodrigo is a Portuguese volunteer involved in World Humanitarian Day.