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By Alyssa Slager
Communications Intern
August 11, 2015
All over the globe, members of the youth population (which happens to be ¼ of the global population!) are grabbing their cameras, and they’re snapping photos representing their contributions to making this world a better place. They are then sending them away to the United Nations with the hashtag #YouthDay, in hopes of their photo being showcased at the International Youth Day event at the UN’s Headquarters. All of this is part of a United Nations campaign to promote International Youth Day, which takes place on August 12th each year.
This year’s International Youth Day enjoys the theme: Youth Civic Engagement, hence why youths captured photos while making contributions to society. Urging the youth to speak up and take action are the aims of this year’s theme. In a message issued by the UN’s Secretary-General he states, “I applaud the millions of young people who are protesting for rights and participation, addressing staggering levels of youth unemployment, raising their voices against injustice, and advocating global action for people and the planet…At this critical moment in history, I call on young people to demand and foster the dramatic progress so urgently needed in our world”. He believes youths know the issues at stake best, and, therefore, encourages them to speak out, and more importantly for everyone else to listen.
It is of vital importance to not underestimated our next businessmen, doctors, politicians, humanitarian activists, country leaders, and the list goes on and on. The youths play a key role in shaping the global world, and it is fitting to have a day in dedication of that. Here at the Niagara Foundation we wish you an empowering International Youth Day, hoping you can speak up or open your ears to the ones that have!