International Youth Day: how our Global Youth Ambassadors are building peace and inclusion

There is an increasing understanding that young people are critical actors in all areas of international development. 

As conflict and unrest across the globe continues, it is apt that this year’s International Youth Day theme is “Youth Building Peace”. 

It is a recognition of the essential role youth have to play in building peace and promoting security, especially as often fragile and conflicted-affected territories are largely comprised of young people.

There is currently the largest youth population in history and their inclusion in the peace and security agenda is vital to fostering sustainable peace and building inclusive societies.

Insecurity has a sustained and negative impact on education both in terms of access and quality. However, it can also act as an important bulwark against violence and conflict – evidence from UNESCO shows that the risk of conflict can be halved if the percentage of young people in secondary education is doubled from 30% to 60% in countries with a high youth population. 

Our Global Youth Ambassadors – 500 of them in more than 80 countries – advocate and campaign for educational change – and many of them work in peace-building. 

Here – in their own words – is some of the amazing work they have been doing over the past year in conflict prevention, peace-building, inclusion and social justice.