International Youth Day

Phoebe Simcock, 12th Aug 2021
Tags: Life Blog Environment Justice

International Youth Day, does it sound familiar to you? No, it didn’t to me either. It’s a day organised by the United Nations in 2000 to celebrate the contribution that we as young people make in places like employment, education, and conflict resolution and publicise some of the difficulties that people are dealing with all over the world.

It celebrates our views and initiatives on a global scale, and finally recognises our crucial role in priorities such as climate change and inequality. 

Each year the UN decide on a specific theme to focus on because let’s face it, we make some pretty radical changes. This year’s theme is Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health, and it’s a pretty big topic to tackle.

Youth engagement and leadership around the topic is vital.

After seeing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in regards to health, the environment and food systems, it has been made clear that youth engagement and leadership around the topic is vital. The global effort to transform food systems is not possible without us. The pandemic has highlighted the chronic diseases that can occur if we are not knowledgeable on feeding a population.

The UN intends for us to be contributors rather than targets, they have noticed that we have important things to say and care for the planet deeply. So from this, we now have our say on big issues and topics and we are celebrated for having a strong voice!  

So what can we do to be part of this day? It’s a day for reflection, and for action. We must celebrate how far we’ve come, and be aware that there is a long way to go.

Firstly, keep an eye out in your local area for concerts, workshops, and events to hear what other people have to say, and stand up and make your voice heard too.

Advice for getting into your dream job.

If you’re not ready to voice your opinion to the world, that’s okay! Why not chat to your friends and discuss ideas for change? International Youth Day will be all over your social media, so keep an eye out for tips of how to get involved, and they even have stories from people in different professions if you need some advice for getting into your dream job.

Maybe you’re looking to boost the CV, prepare a University application, or try something new to help others? To celebrate their volunteers, they’ve included some of their stories and the fab things they do to help others and broaden their minds.

As part of the celebrations this year, you can sign up for the Youth Lead Innovation Festival, which is a celebration of youth lead innovations for the recovery of the Covid-19 pandemic. The website has lots of ideas on how you can make changes, and celebrates those who have already come up with some amazing ideas. Don’t forget to share online and with your friends what you do or intend to do to make a change.  

An idea is just an idea until you share it.

Remember, an idea is just an idea until you share it. The UN want to hear how you can make changes, and maybe next year you’ll be influencing others to follow in your footsteps.