International Youth Day

August 12 every year marks the International Youth Day (IYD). A celebration geared towards engaging young people across the world. IYD began on the 17th of December 1999 when the General Assembly, in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, August 8-12th, 1998) that the 12th of August be declared International Youth Day.

Since it began in 1999, IYD has been celebrated using various themes and current issues. These themes and issues are listed below.
IYD 2008 - Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action
IYD 2007 - Be seen, Be heard: Youth participation for development
IYD 2006 - Tackling Poverty Together
IYD 2005 - WPAY+10: Making Commitments Matter
IYD 2004 - Youth in an Intergenerational Society
IYD 2003 - Finding decent and productive work for young people everywhere
IYD 2002 - Now and for the Future: Youth Action for Sustainable Development
IYD 2001 - Addressing Health and Unemployment
First Observance of International Youth Day 2000

This year’s theme is “Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future”. The theme explores the idea that “sustainability” not only refers to maintaining environmental balance and renewal, but it also encapsulates three facets of life: the environment, society and the economy. The actions and inactions of mankind over the years have had adverse effects on the environment. The impact of climate change as a result of green house effect cannot be overemphasized.
As the environment slowly but steadily deteriorates, it becomes more obvious that there will be inevitable consequence for future generations. Water bodies are dry up; the sun’s heat level is increasing; the glaciers or ice on the Antarctic are melting; the sea level is elevating; fisheries population is diminishing; the cost of food prices is increasing.. As these environmental threats become more serious, we are confronted with our future survival and livelihoods as young people..

As young people, we need to take responsibility for reducing if not eliminating the effect of environmental hazards. According to an article published in the March 2009 edition of Newsweek, Earth had a life span of about 5,000 years, but due to environmental damage the planet is now expected to survive for only 850 years.
Fellow young people, our future has been jeopardized! We need to unite to put our shoulders to the wheel by helping our respective governments, civil society organizations, donor agencies, and others deal with this seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), a youth-based NGO in Ghana, has environmental sustainability as one of its key thematic areas of work. We engage young people to learn, understand and contribute to finding solutions to the world’s problem.

SYND is calling all governments, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations and development partners to provide aid, assistance, opportunities and/or platforms for young people. Channeling youths’ talents, energy, and resources into environmentally sustainable activities is an indispensable way of ensuring success in this campaign. Young people have been labeled as “the energizers of today and the holders of tomorrow”!

According to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, “the future promise of any nation can directly be measured by the current prospects of its youth.” In the same vein, I want to state that the future sustainability of this planet can be directly measured by the level of engagement of our youth. The Management and Executive Members of SYND take this opportunity to salute young people all over the world and to wish them a happy celebration.

Fellow young people, let’s engage in sharing, learning, creating and trading information through the cross-pollination of ideas and ideals as future leaders for our respective homes, communities, societies, nations and the world as a whole.

Long live the positive dreams and aspirations of young people!
Long live our world!

Best regards.
Chibeze Ezekiel
Executive Director
Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND)
+233 244 967931
synd.ghana@hotmail.com