When is the International Youth Day celebrated?

           The wealth of a nation is its youth, people say. A nation with a considerable number of young people needs only to direct them in the right path; they will subsequently lead the nation to glory. Young minds are full of fresh thoughts and novel ideas. Therefore, the International Youth Day, falling on August 12, is an occasion to celebrate the young, who are humanity’s future.

          Statistics suggest that the world has the largest number of young people currently, around 1.8 billion, between the age of 10 and 24. Although it is a matter of great promise, the fact is that one in 10 young children live in conflict zones and 24 million of them do not get any education. The youth in our societies are increasingly isolated due to political instability, labour market challenges and limited space for political and civic participation.

          The International Youth Day aims to provide them safe spaces where they can come together and engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests. The youth should be encouraged to participate in decision-making processes and freely express themselves.

          Governments should provide spaces for accommodating the needs of diverse youth.

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