August 12th is International Youth Day! This globally recognized day focuses on the importance of improving life for children around the world.
Every day, countless youth struggle with the challenges of poverty, war, and hunger. To help combat this, the United Nations declared 1985 the “International Year of Youth”. Ten years later, in 1995, they established the World Programme of Action for Youth. This initiative helped to establish guidelines to help create a better life for young people around the world. Most recently, in 1999, the UN declared August 12th International Youth Day to serve as a continual reminder that children truly are our future.
This year’s theme is Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World – Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. You can learn more about the United Nation’s 2023 International Youth Day on their website.
You can also take action locally by supporting groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the United Way. They are always looking for volunteers and donations to help combat childhood hunger and poverty. The United Way supports local food pantries, school supply drives, and education programs. It’s a great way to get involved in improving the lives of youth right here in Milwaukee, Mequon and Waukesha!