Young people around the world are already making an important contribution to a sustainable future. But with support they could do much more. This is what the UN is pointing out on today's International Youth Day. We have been saying this for years, prioritising support for young people in a different place than the UN.
Today is the International Youth Day. This year, the UN is drawing attention to the importance of youth in the fight against poverty and the achievement of sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production. Young people are already shaping a better future, but they still need a great deal of support in order to pursue the above-mentioned goals.
government commitment
In the current World Youth Report, the UN identifies a wide range of issues in the areas of economics as well as political and social commitment where young people need support. 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 from the bottom up. Young people must therefore be strengthened so that they themselves can convince their environment of their concerns.
Three selected projects are examples of this:
Centro Sabia - Counteracting the rural exodus of young people
Many young people in the northeast of Brazil do not see any possibility to build up an existence 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 organisation Centro Sabia, they develop new sources of income based on organic farming. As young entrepreneurs, their active political commitment is met with open ears.
MMPZ - Strengthening the life skills of young people
In Zimbabwe there is hardly a family that is not affected by the AIDS pandemic. HIV-positive young people often not only suffer from the actual disease, but society also excludes them socially and economically. Our partner organisation Million Memory Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) supports 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 materials for the children and young people affected by HIV.
Tuktan Sirpi - Protecting and strengthening 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 organisation Tuktan Sirpi reaches around 6000 children who are campaigning to the authorities for the rights of working children. Last but not least, they develop their own future prospects.
