International Youth Day: young people show they care about education
Young peope are at the heart of everything we do at A World at School. We are striving to get every child in the world into school – and our Global Youth Ambassadors are taking that message to schools, communities and politicians.
Our youth-led campaign – the #UpForSchool Petition – has seen more than eight million people signing and calling on world leaders to give every girl and boy an education. That means overcoming the barriers that prevent children going to school – including child labour, child marriage, conflicts and attacks on schools, discrimination and exploitation.
Today is International Youth Day – and the focus this year is on civic engagement. Here we look at some of the numbers behind youth engagement on global education and what people are saying about International Youth Day. Don’t miss a blog by A World at School’s Madeline Serena on how young people have the power to change millions of lives. And Baela Raza Jamil, Director Programmes at ITA in Pakistan, writes about the amazing succes of the country’s Education Youth Ambassadors.
Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, said in a statement today: “Today’s events mark a new development in thriving youth activism. Today 30 million young people are officially displaced persons, exiled from their homes in their own countries. Around 10 million have become refugees, forced to seek shelter in countries far from their home and their families.
“There are currently 5.5 million children who have been affected by the Syrian conflict, most of whom enjoyed education before the civil war. Most now go without any school or education. It is a tragedy of epic proportions yet amidst the pain and the suffering there is still aspiration, a desire for life and for knowledge and for opportunity.
“And with a focus on the direct engagement of young people in fighting for their rights, we should be proud to highlight the fact that nothing less than a civil rights struggle is underway, led by young people and their endless energy.”
Mr Brown has also written an International Youth Day blog for World Post. You can read it here.
100,000
People expected to take part in events around the world today. See what’s happening and where on a United Nations map.
500
Global Youth Ambassadors spreading the A World at School message in more than 85 countries. Read some of their inspirational stories here. And you can also read our news stories about their amazing work.
One million
Signatures collected by GYAs for the #UpForSchool Petition. Find out how they did it.
Five
That’s how many of our Global Youth Ambassadors travelled to London in June to receive their Queen’s Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace. Full story here.
Town hall rally
This special event will be held in New York on September 28 – during the United Nations General Assembly – and will be addressed by youth leaders standing alongside campaigner Graca Machel to highlight their demands for support.
#YouthDay on Twitter
The Office of the United Nations Youth Envoy, Ahmad Alhendawi, is having an International Youth Day Digital Surge – from 9am to 3pm Eastern Standard Time (US). Find out what’s on the schedule and how you can take part.
And here’s a flavour of how International Youth Day is being marked on Twitter.
A great pearl of wisdom
Great women inspire girls. Watch: http://t.co/Jh6Eb7eHRn v @PlanGlobal #Girl4President #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/F33JhqtraG
— UN Women (@UN_Women) August 12, 2015
From the former UN Secretary-General…
People are never too young to lead. #YouthDay
— Kofi Annan (@KofiAnnan) August 12, 2015
Spreading #UpForSchool message
#YouthDay Children are our future! Give a child the future and the education they deserve. http://t.co/PTUFTW7fLp pic.twitter.com/mo41j6EyCW
— Muslim Aid UK (@Muslim_Aid) August 12, 2015
Youth can help end child marriage
A growing body of evidence shows that involving youth is an effective strategy to #endchildmarriage http://t.co/6Z4FbjWw9z #YouthDay
— Girls Not Brides (@GirlsNotBrides) August 12, 2015
Education can drive lasting change
Today is International Youth Day. Education is essential to achieve sustainable development. #YouthDay #YouthNow pic.twitter.com/MNsqlXNMuc
— Rajshri Foundation (@RajshriFoundatn) August 12, 2015
Getting girls into school is vital
Celebrating #YouthDay Unlocking potential #girls #education #Tanzania pic.twitter.com/LaM7LHVuXL
— EMCS (@EMCSTz) August 12, 2015
Girls and women are rising up
Youth can “become the champions that we need to end child marriage”– @GirlsNotBrides http://t.co/6zWLBPn6zR #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/axs4bKcFdp
— Women & Girls Lead (@WomenGirlsLead) August 11, 2015
About more than basic education
Equal access to #education & relevant skills training for work & life are essential: http://t.co/cknDy8V2mo #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/KnctYXktQl
— UN Education Report (@EFAReport) August 12, 2015
Celebrating young people’s work
10 ways youth are improving education around the world http://t.co/CaenG3a4Y6 #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/rArBbvlJMb
— Global Partnership (@GPforEducation) August 12, 2015
Helping girls to stay safe
Happy #YouthDay!Young ppl–how do you change your future&advance #genderequality? http://t.co/I954WIgxeV @wagggs_world pic.twitter.com/SCWYfWn3D7
— UN Women (@UN_Women) August 12, 2015
Education helps health
Education and good health of girls and women contribute to the health of communities! #EWECisMe #YouthSRHR #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/qdAZk4JgeO
— GirlsGlobe (@GirlsGlobe) August 12, 2015
Ugandan GYA holds event
We’re loud & clear to world leaders #UpForSchool. W’ve celebrated #IYD2015 @MakerereU. #YouthNow @aworldatschool pic.twitter.com/qe25WeGnUC
— Seguya Hillary I. T (@HillaryTaylorVI) August 12, 2015
And a big thanks from us
Thanks to all our inspiring Global Youth Ambassadors! Young people like you make us work harder every day. #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/uySnuMVbVN
— A World at School (@aworldatschool) August 12, 2015