International youth day

What does it really mean to be young? Is youth merely the number of years we have lived?
Perhaps not. You can be young in years and yet become rigid in your ways of thinking. And you
can be well advanced in age, yet remain wonderfully alive, curious, enthusiastic and eager to
discover what life has to offer. It is simply having the capacity to be a student at anything, new or
old, whether learning a new technical skill, a new language or simply listening to another point of
view without anger. Curiosity is the true key to elasticity of mind.
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the
attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in
today’s global society.The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by the young
people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the World Youth Forum of
the United Nations System. The Forum recommended that an International Youth Day be
declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes, to support the United Nations
Youth Fund in partnership with youth organizations.
In 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as International Youth Day was adopted by the first
session of the the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth , which was hosted by
the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998).
The idea for an International Youth Day was first proposed in 1991 by young people attending the
first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System in Vienna. So, the origins of
the day actually came from young people’s own initiative.
Interesting facts about young people:
1. Young people are the largest generation in history.
There are around 1.8 billion people aged 10-24 worldwide, making young people one of the
largest generations the world has ever seen. Also in Croatia, young people aged 0 to 19 make up
roughly 19.0% of the population (about 735,000 individuals), while those defined more narrowly
as youth (aged 15 to 29 or 15 to 30) account for roughly 17% to 18% of the country.
2. Young people make up a significant part of the world’s population.
Around 1.2 billion people aged 15–24 live in the world today, representing approximately 16% of
the global population. By 2030, this number is expected to increase to almost 1.3 billion.
3. Most young people live in developing countries.
Almost 90% of the world’s 10–24 year olds live in developing countries. This means that the
future of many societies will be strongly shaped by the opportunities available to their young
populations.
4.Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow. They are already creating change today.
The United Nations highlights young people as innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders
and agents of change. They contribute to areas such as climate action, social innovation,
technology and sustainable development.
5. International Youth Day has been celebrated since 2000.
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed 12 August as International Youth Day in 1999,
following a recommendation from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in
Lisbon. The first International Youth Day was observed on 12 August 2000.
6.Young people have a huge role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Young people are not simply beneficiaries of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They have
also been active participants in shaping and implementing them, particularly through youth
organizations, activism and community initiatives.
Young people at the heart of Impress.
Young people have always been an important part of the work of Impress. Through workshops,
volunteering, international projects, Erasmus+ activities, intercultural events and non-formal
education, young people have the opportunity to gain new skills while learning from real-life
experiences.
For us, learning does not happen only in a classroom. It can happen while travelling to another
country, meeting someone from a different culture, organizing an event, volunteering in the
community, creating something with a team or simply having a conversation with someone new.
We often hear that young people are “the leaders of tomorrow”. But at Impress, we believe that
young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow. They are the changemakers of today. Young
people are already creating projects, volunteering, sharing ideas, learning new skills, connecting
different cultures and contributing to their communities.
Through our Erasmus+ activities, we have had the opportunity to welcome young people from
different parts of Europe and beyond to Daruvar. Over the years, our Erasmus+ activities have
connected young people from around the World, creating opportunities for cultural exchange,
learning and cooperation.
Yesterday, on 12 August, International Youth Day, we celebrated young people in the best way we
know by spending time together, creating, connecting and having fun. At Impress, we believe that
International Youth Day is not only a day to talk about young people, but also a day to listen to
them, give them space to express themselves and celebrate everything they bring to our
communities.Throughout the day, we organized activities where young people could meet,
socialize, share ideas and enjoy time together.
For us, this is what youth work is about. It is not only about organizing activities. It is about
creating a space where young people feel welcome, where they can be themselves, meet new
people, discover their interests and realize that their voice matters. International Youth Day gave
us another opportunity to celebrate the young people who are part of our community and to
remind ourselves why supporting youth participation is so important.
Yesterday we celebrated young people. Today, we continue creating opportunities for them. And
tomorrow, we will keep believing in their ideas, creativity and potential. Our message to young
people:
You do not have to wait until you are older to make a difference. You do not need to have
everything figured out. You do not need to be perfect. Start with an idea. Ask a question. Join a
project. Meet someone new, volunteer. Learn something you have never tried before. Share your
voice.Sometimes, one small opportunity can change the direction of someone’s life.That is why
creating opportunities for young people matters. At Impress, we want to continue creating
spaces where young people can feel heard, supported and inspired to take action – locally and
internationally. Because young people are not just preparing for the future.vThey are already
creating it.
Happy International Youth Day!
Sources:
1. United Nations-International Youth Day
2. United Nations-Youth and the Sustainable Development Goals
3. UNICEF-Adolescent Development and Participation
4. Udruga Impress-About us and Erasmus+ activities

Author: Ramil Guliyev

* “The Impress Association is a beneficiary of institutional support from the National Foundation for Civil Society Development for the stabilization and/or development of the association. The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Foundation.”