National and International Days and Country Information: International Youth Day

International Youth Day - 12 August

Authors

Narayana Rao

Contributers

Sajid Khan

Background

The General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.

The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm

Youth: Persons between 11 to 25 years.

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International Youth Day Theme for 2011

2011 International Youth Day: Change Our World

“Change Our World” has been chosen as the theme for IYD 2011 as it not only expresses the level of impact that young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a global community that is a core principle of the United Nations.

Secretary-General's Message for 2011

“Change Our World” is more than the theme of this year’s International Youth Day; it is an injunction that should inspire young people at all times.

To (young people): you have the opportunity to change our world. Seize it.

Read the full message: http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/sg.shtml

Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova

"Young people are one billion strong in the world. They carry a billion hopes for a better future and a billion ideas to change the world."

Read the full message: http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/dg_unesco.shtml

Dialogue and Mutual Understanding

2011 High-level Meeting
http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/hlm.shtml

http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/

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International Youth Day Theme for 2009

SUSTAINABILITY: Our Challenge. Our Future.

Ideas for Action and Celebration

Team up! It is a great opportunity to rally support and get key actors involved - Governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses, and young people - to focus on what has been done to further the World Programme of Action for Youth.

Organize! Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of young people focusing on youth issues and how they can be addressed.

Celebrate! Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase - and celebrate – the fact that youth contribute to the societies in which they live. Convene exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of young people.

Take action! A major focus of the Day is practical action to further encourage the empowerment and participation of youth in the processes and decisions that affect their lives. The media have especially an important role to play in support of the observance of the Day to promote public awareness of youth issues.

The United Nations Program on Youth is encouraging youth organizations around the world to host community barter fairs for International Youth Day. Remember, with bartering there is no money involved, only pure exchange of goods and services.

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Events 2009

India

Annual All India Essay Writing Event 2009

Shri Ram Chandra Mission in collaboration with the United Nations Information Center for India and Bhutan, presents the Annual All India Essay Writing Event, conducted by the Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute in commemoration of International Day of Youth, on 12 August 2009. The Annual All India Essay Writing event will be organized in educational institutions across the country. Every year the event sees enthusiastic participation from the best of schools and colleges. This year in commemoration of International Day of Youth, SRCM and the United Nations Information Center for India and Bhutan (UNIC), have joined hands to ignite the hearts and minds of our youth, and encourage them to reflect upon topics that highlight the UN's International theme for the year 2009 — Reconciliation.

Participants will be allowed to express themselves in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Sanskrit and Braille, and vie for national, regional and school / college level recognition in each of the 3 categories of participation. Winners will have an opportunity to present their views at a prize distribution ceremony hosted by the UNIC in Delhi.

For details on the event for organizing it in your institutions send an email to essayevent@sahajmarg.org.

Essay Topics for the year 2009

Category 1: Give Love Get Love
Std 6 to 9, approx. 750 words

Points to ponder: How does peace and friendship in society benefit the individual?

Category 2: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
Std 10 to 12, approx. 1000 words

Points to ponder: Can there be irreconcilable differences if everyone accepted this? R. Ingersoll has said, “Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.” What do you think?

Category 3: Love has hope, Hatred is hopeless
College UG/PG, approx. 1000 words

Points to ponder: Can Love be a potent instrument of reconciliation?

For more details visit: http://www.sahajmarg.org/web/guest/aboutus/smrti/essay-event-2009

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