Youth, or ‘the wind of change’ as it is sometimes called, can play a crucial role in international development. By empowering young people and giving them a voice, international development aims to tap into their creativity, innovation, and potential to drive positive change. Every year, on 12th August, International Youth Day is observed, drawing the global community’s focus towards youth-related matters, and honoring the immense potential of young people as active contributors to today’s interconnected world. On this special day, we have gathered several opinions from international experts in the Youth sector. Check out their thoughts below.
Key Takeaways:
- According to the World Youth Report, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16% of the global population.
- Some of the challenges faced by youth in the 21st century are a lack of employment opportunities, a failure to succeed in education, mental health issues, and the pressures of materialism, etc.
- Several studies show that ‘Generation Z’ (born between the late 1990s and early 2010s) wants more independent work environments compared to Millennials (born between early the 1980s and mid-1990s).
- Investing in youth-led initiatives, mentorship programs, and capacity-building opportunities is crucial according to youth experts.
DevelopmentAid: What are the biggest challenges for youth nowadays?
“Listening to the youth and their concerns, I can say that they are worried about their mental health, about being well so that they can fully enjoy their lives. The pandemic highlighted problems that were not sufficiently visible, such as loneliness, sadness, and anxiety about not measuring up in a world where they cannot fully integrate. This has led them to feel alone, without support to move forward. I believe that we must provide them with the necessary tools to achieve full social and emotional inclusion which allows them access to housing, education and decent work opportunities. It is their right and as adults we must take care that this happens.”
“Youth today faces challenges such as unemployment, limited access to quality education, and lack of participation in decision-making processes. Empowering youth through job creation and entrepreneurship is important for their personal growth and economic progress.”
DevelopmentAid: What is the role of youth in global development?
“I think the phrase ‘with us everything, without us nothing’ applies very well. From my perspective, we cannot think of global development without including the concerns, demands and proposals of young people. It would be a serious mistake not to include them or not to consider their ideas and proposals. If we talk about building development and therefore citizenship, they must be the protagonists of development. This means respecting and taking into consideration their right to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.”
DevelopmentAid: What is the biggest difference between Millennials and Gen Z when it comes to workplace/culture/beliefs?
“I believe that as adults we should place more emphasis on the things that both generations have in common or at least get to know these differences better in order to understand young people and provide them with the opportunities they deserve. I think the main differences are the level of technologization and its management: GenZ has incorporated this as part of their daily lives, and we see it as something attractive or to be integrated. I also believe that we have responsibilities to assume among the Millennial generation regarding artificial intelligence and its use, to benefit from it and generate more opportunities. Surely, we have a lot to learn from Generation Z about how we can take advantage of it with clear and inclusive regulations in their use!”
“Millennials value work-life balance, while Gen Z is more career-driven and financially motivated. Millennials prefer written and visual communication, while Gen Z prefers short-form video communication.”
DevelopmentAid: What should the international community do to better empower youth?
“I believe that making commitments with a clear roadmap that sets concrete goals for the issues that young people prioritize and that obligates states and society to follow. We know the problems that exist, we have enough data. I think we lack action and commitment. Another important point from my perspective is to enable spaces of participation at different levels, in the communities, in their education centers, in the political arena, and seriously consider the voices coming out of the young people’s community.”
“Investing in youth-led initiatives, mentorship programs, and capacity-building opportunities is crucial. Governments, organizations, and individuals should collaborate to create platforms for youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. Providing financial support, access to technology, and training programs can bridge the digital divide and harness the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In conclusion, the challenges faced by today’s youth are significant, but their role in global development is even more profound. By addressing unemployment, improving education access, and amplifying youth voices, we can empower the next generation to become catalysts for positive change. Let us commit ourselves to investing in their potential, ensuring that youth are equipped with the necessary resources and opportunities to shape a brighter future for all.”
Getting involved in the international development sector as a young person can be an exciting and rewarding journey. There are numerous positions on the DevelopmentAid job board requiring up to 5 years of experience. To enter this international job market, young people need to stand out from the competition by having access to various tools. By becoming an Individual Professional Member you can access 8,500+ jobs, tenders and grants for individuals and many other tools on www.developmentaid.org – the largest database of information related to international aid sector.
