Young people all over the world are already making an important contribution to a sustainable future. But with support, they could do much more. The UN is highlighting this fact on today’s International Youth Day. We have been saying this for years, prioritizing support for young people in a different place than the UN.
Today is International Youth Day. This year, the UN is drawing attention to the importance of young people in combating poverty and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production. Young people are already shaping a better future, but they still need a great deal of support to continue pursuing these goals.
Government commitment
In the latest World Youth Report, the UN identifies a wide range of areas in which young people need support, from the economy to political and social engagement. However, all points have one thing in common: according to the UN, the active participation and commitment of governments is needed to advance the efforts of young people.
Movement from below
Although the UN’s appeal to governments to get involved is fundamentally correct, experience from our projects points to another point: a change in values can only be successful in the long term if it is built up from below. Young people therefore need to be empowered so that they themselves can convince those around them of their concerns.
Three selected projects are examples of this:
Centro Sabia – Counteracting the rural exodus of young people
Many young people in north-eastern Brazil see no possibility of building a livelihood in their home region in the countryside. They migrate in droves to the big cities or seek work as harvest workers on large plantations, where they are often exploited. With the help of our partner organization Centro Sabia, they are developing new sources of income based on organic farming. As young entrepreneurs, their lively political commitment meets with an open ear.
MMPZ – Strengthening the life skills of young people
In Zimbabwe, there is hardly a family that has not been affected by the AIDS pandemic. HIV-positive young people often not only suffer from the disease itself, society also excludes them socially and economically. Our partner organization Million Memory Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) empowers these young people with a training programme and psychosocial support. The great commitment of the young people has led to the regional hospital in Bulawayo providing special rooms and equipment for children and young people affected by HIV.
Tuktan Sirpi – Protecting and empowering working children
Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the world. To supplement the family income, many children and young people have to drop out of school and go to work. Our partner organization Tuktan Sirpi reaches around 6,000 children who stand up to the authorities for the rights of working children. Not least, they are developing their own prospects for the future.
