Presently, World Youth Day is celebrated all over the world, including Pakistan. This day recognizes the importance of young people in nation-building. In Pakistan alone, half its population comprises youngsters, making this celebration quite relevant.
Significance of World Youth Day
World Youth Day is observed annually on August 12th. Realizing how significant young people are to society, the United Nations adopted a resolution in 1999 to establish this day as an international event. Since then, every year, starting August 12th, 2000, has been marked with different themes for each celebration, which aims to highlight various challenges faced by youth and their role in communities.
Objectives
The main objective behind marking a global event like World Youth Day is to recognize the importance of young people and draw attention to issues that affect them worldwide. This observance reminds us that we must support our younger generation by addressing their needs, from education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services to social integration into wider societies.
Challenges Faced By Youths
Youths face numerous problems worldwide. One out of every four individuals aged below 30 lives in poverty, while one in five suffers from joblessness. Lack of necessities like education facilities and healthcare centers worsens these situations, thereby hindering the development prospects for many young people who may not be able to grow or advance due to a lack of the resources required for personal growth and development.
Local Context: Pakistan
Pakistan, the sixth most populous country globally, has an urgent situation because there are more youths within its borders than in any other place on earth except India. They still constitute about 40% of the illiterate population, which limits personal growth and national progress since most lack the skills necessary for competing in the modern employment market, thus increasing unemployment rates amongst them.
Role Of Young Generation In Nation Building
Education plays a vital role in the development and future of any country because it empowers people, especially young people. Investing more in vocational training institutions is, therefore, necessary since this will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed by different industries as they enter the workforce, contributing to economic growth at large scales. Providing quality education along relevant programs can significantly improve their employability, enhancing national prosperity.
Encouraging Positive Involvement Among Youths
It is essential to engage youth through positive activities such as community service and sports. These activities help foster personal development while simultaneously creating social cohesion within communities, thus leading to a more vibrant society where everyone participates actively in its well-being.
Addressing The Needs Of Young People
For instance, healthy bodies make minds learn better; hence, governments must work hand in glove with organizations to ensure all-around support for these areas so that no child may fall behind due to ill health or mental health-related problems during studies, which may affect general performance later in life.
Creating Opportunities For Them
Creating job opportunities, especially for fresh graduates, can be a game changer for achieving rapid economic growth. Supporting these entrepreneurs through providing financial aid packages and mentorship programs, among other incentives, might also stimulate new ideas, thereby boosting business enterprises even further. Policies encouraging more participation in the youth employment market are crucial to solving underemployment issues. Unemployment rates over the years have remained high despite the increase in tertiary education enrollment levels.
summary
World Youth Day is a reminder that young people are full of potential and crucial in determining what lies ahead. Therefore, we should strive to address the obstacles they face while providing them with education, healthcare facilities, and job prospects since this will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of society. It is both celebratory and demanding; governments must act together with agencies or individuals to strengthen these adolescents to make our future brighter.
