International Youth Day 2025.. A new generation leading the world towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

International Youth Day 2025..A new generationLeading the world towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

When looking at sustainable development, we find that youth are the group most capable of realigning their global goals with social, economic and environmental transformations. All Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) move from theoretical concepts to positive practical behavior.

Therefore, every year on August 12, the world celebrates International Youth Day, and this year’s theme will be: “Local youth action to achieve the goals of sustainable development and beyond”; Based on the fact that youth are the world’s present energy and driving force.

From this standpoint,The Earth Guards Foundation presents a reading of the role of youth within the framework of celebrating International Youth Day; With a desire to spread awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieve the desired positive impact among all individuals; So keep reading.

A generation leading sustainable development

To truly understand the power of youth, statistics indicate that more than65% of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked – in one way or another – to local efforts; Which means that activating the role of youth at the community level is not a complementary option, but rather a structural necessity to accelerate the achievement of these goals.

Also,Half of the world’s population – according to the Commonwealth Global Youth Development Index Update report – is under 30 years of age, a percentage that is likely to rise to 57% by 2030. This demographic composition represents a golden opportunity if it is properly invested.

According to an opinion poll conducted byThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, young people are generally more optimistic about the future than the elderly, especially in low- and middle-income countries, an optimism that can fuel change if supported by good education, appropriate skills, and decent job opportunities.

Therefore, realizing these facts is the first step towards comprehensive and sustainable change, and International Youth Day provides an opportunity to renew commitment to this change. Contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not only with words, but with actions and realistic projects.

So, the belief of the United Nations and all the peoples of the world in this vital role played by young people reflects the conviction that sustainable development begins between cities and village streets, where young people translate ambitions into tangible reality; Therefore, International Youth Day stands out as a call for action and an opportunity for hope in the extent of youth’s untapped potential.

Governments are partners in youth empowerment

It is not possible to talk about local youth work without stopping at the essential role of local and regional governments, as they are the closest to the real pulse of societies, the most capable of providing an appropriate strategic environment, and the quickest in allocating the resources with which young people can transform their ideas into realistic projects.

When youth priorities are integrated into the development plans of cities and regions most in need of development efforts, their voice is transformed from scattered demands into an effective force within the decision-making process, and then youth are involved in formulating relevant policies.

To achieve this, open spaces must be provided for young people and an environment that encourages innovation. In order to provide innovative ideas and smart solutions to social, economic or environmental problems, and thus we have achieved Goal No. (10) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to reducing inequalities, and Goal No. (16) concerned with peace, justice, strong institutions, and other related goals.

2025 is a turning point in the global youth journey

International Youth Day 2025 holds special value; As it coincides with the approaching thirtieth anniversary of the World Program of Action for Youth; The international program, which has formed, since its inception, a frame of reference for youth empowerment, is gaining additional importance today as the date of achieving the 2030 Plan approaches.

This coincidence between the anniversary of the program and the final phase of the 2030 Agenda makes 2025 a strategic year, not only to celebrate, but also to evaluate achievements and monitor challenges, and it is also an occasion to strengthen the principles on which youth work is based:Inclusiveness, participation, and societal responsibility.

Also, the world is preparing to hold the second session of the World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha next November, which will constitute an opportunity to exchange experiences between young people from different countries, and discuss how to enhance their role in facing a number of challenges.

Nairobi, the capital of celebration and a symbol of cooperation

Referring to the activities of celebrating International Youth Day 2025 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, we will find that it is a joint organization between the United Nations and the Human Settlements Programme, and that the choice of Nairobi is an inspiring choice. Because it is a city that represents a combination of urban challenges and community innovations, and embraces young people who are leadingenvironmental and economic initiativesinspiring.

This year, the event will bring together youth leaders, local officials, policy makers, representatives of United Nations organizations, and experts in sustainable development, as this diversity will reflect the international community’s belief that change requires the integration of expertise at all levels, and that the voice of youth must be heard in every forum.

This is why the celebration of International Youth Day 2025 will witness a presentation of local youth projects that have succeeded in making a tangible impact in their communities, whether in the fields of education, green economy, or public health. Therefore, local action can be the spark of global change, and success stories are not limited to rich countries or major cities.

From the above, International Youth Day 2025 will be a test of the world’s ability to move from the stage of theorizing to enacting change, and from consuming slogans to producing measurable policies and practices. Because young people – with their intellectual flexibility and community presence – stand on the line of contact between international ambitions and a local reality full of challenges and opportunities.

Therefore,The Earth Guards Foundationdescribes the younger generation as “a rising environmental and social force, capable of redefining the relationship between humans and their resources”; Therefore, we must invest in this historical moment, and invest in the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fairly and comprehensively.