March

Youth Day in Pakistan

March 11 National Youth Day, Pakistan

The International Youth Day is a youth awareness day marked by the United Nations to be able to draw attention to cultural and legal issues with the youth. The first of these was observed in the year 2000. Many countries celebrate this day and different countries may have different designated dates of celebration. Different countries around the world face the problems of youth malnutrition, child abuse, lack of youth education, and many more. The purpose of the Youth Day is to shed light on these problems so that people would give them attention and so is the need to solving these problems.

Just like other countries, Pakistan also celebrates this day called the Youth Day in Pakistan. This year, it will be held on 12 August. Since it is so near already and just right around the corner, then you should make yourself informed about this special day. To do that, then you should read more down below.

History of International Youth Day

The goal or aim of International Youth Day is to raise awareness of the various issues that the youth face in the world. According to the United Nations, the youth are those people aged 15 to 24 years old. That is the definition set by the UN but different countries may have different legal or cultural definitions of the term youth.

It was in 1995 when the General Assembly of the United Nations or simply UN adopted the World Programs of Action for Youth with the intent of making policies and guidelines that will support the youth and give them a brighter future. The World Program of Action consists of fifteen priority areas including employment, poverty, hunger, education, health, drug abuse, and environment. Aside from these priority areas, International Youth Day wants to increase the quantity and improve the quality of opportunities that are available to the youth when it comes to their participation in society.

In 2009, the United Nations Economic and Social Council further expanded the 15 priority areas by developing targets and goals and monitor the progress of the youth. The priority areas and their expansion paved the way towards the annual theme of International Youth Day. Every year, a theme is selected by the UN for the international youth day which they base on the most pressing problems and most immediate issues the youth face in today’s world.

International Youth Day Background and Events

Internationally, the International Youth Day is observed on August 12 as set by the United Nations. However, different countries set their own dates for the celebration. For instance, China celebrates it during May 4 as a dedication to the May Fourth Movement in 1919. India celebrates it on January 12. And Pakistan celebrates Pakistan Youth Day every March 11 & Pakistan day is on 23 March.

The purpose of international youth day is to draw the attention of the public especially the government to the issues and problems that the youth face today. There are various events like concerts, cultural events, meetings, and workshops that allow the national or even the local government officials and youth organizations to coordinate and cooperate. The United Nations actually adopted a resolution in 1999 which marked the establishment of Youth Day.

An example theme or special event was in 2014 wherein its slogan was the Youth and Mental Health. In 2015, the theme was Youth and Civic Engagement. In 2016, the theme was the Road to 3030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and production. Tin 2017, the theme was Youth Building Peace. And last year, , the theme was Safe Spaces for Youth. The theme for this year is yet to be announced but it will surely put the focus on the most pertinent problems that the youth face today.

The events of the Youth Day can be a lot and vastly varied. During International Youth Day, a conference is held to discuss the various issues that the youth face today and how these problems can be addressed. Such a conference is usually comprised of many speakers coming from different countries and different fields of work or specialization. There is also a youth awards ceremony more likely.

Schools also value the youth day especially because most students of schools, colleges, and universities are the youth. Especially in elementary schools, children are made to compete in contests about youth day such as slogan and poster making contests, speech contests, essay writing contests, and more. The problems and issues faced by the youth should not only be recognized by the adults but also by the youth themselves.

Also Read About Independence Day of Pakistan 

International Youth Day Facts

The International Youth Day, including the Youth Day Pakistan, has different facts. The facts may differ from one country to another depending on which youth problems they are facing. But remember that one thing is clear – it is the issues and problems of the youth that are being advocated during Youth Day. let us run through some facts about International Youth Day.

  • Each year, the International Youth Day has a theme which is set by the United Nations.
  • The youngest Nobel Laureate is actually a youth activist named Malala Yousafzai. This youth advocate seeks for the rights of all youth when it comes to their access to education regardless of their religion, gender, or creed.
  • There is about 1.8 billion youth today in the world. Half of them actually survive on less than 2 dollars a day.
  • The youth today face issues and problems like no access to education, lack of access to clean water, malnutrition, etc.

International Youth Day Quotes

During International Youth Day, you can participate even in the simplest way by raising awareness through sharing messages, thoughts, and quotes about the youth during the special day of advocating for the rights of the youth. Below are some quotes that you can take a look at.

  • The youth is the hope of our future – Jose Rizal
  • We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire, and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible. – Barack Obama
  • Youth is in a grand flush, like the hot days of ending summer; and pleasant dreams thrall your spirit, like the smoky atmosphere that bathes the landscape of an August day – Donald G. Mitchell
  • Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies. – Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
  • In youth we learn; in age we understand.

Top Things to Do in Youth Day in Pakistan

The following are the things that you can do during Youth Day in Pakistan so that you may be able to know how to celebrate. It is indeed a good feeling when you are able to advocate for the youth.

  • You can participate in the Youth Day Celebration in your own city. You can even use the hashtag of Youth Day to be able to find things related to the issues of the youth and promote them or make people more aware of the situations of the children.
  • You can encourage or make the youth build confidence through activities that require their cooperation and coordination such as clubs, bands, and sports.
  • The youth can also be thought about global warming and the effects of various negative externalities on the environment.
  • You can also make the youth watch movies that will inspire them. Most of these movies are in animated form so that the children will be able to enjoy watching those movies.
  • There is just a lot of things that we can share with the youth so that they can become more empowered.

Youth Day in Pakistan Conclusion

Now, you know the various important and relevant things that you need to know about the international youth day and the Youth Day in Pakistan, then you now fully understood why there is such a day as the Youth Day and how important such day is to our youth.  The youth, being the future of our current generation, is just so important that they must be taken care of always. That involves making opportunities always available to them. And whenever they face any problem or issue, it is best to help them by advocating for them or by raising awareness about the most pertinent issues and problems they are facing.

The Youth Day is one of those days where such advocacies can be disseminated. It might sound a fun experience for the youth but underneath all that, it is an emotional experience for them, especially for those kids that have grown under slavery, malnutrition, and poverty. The Youth Day gives them hope that someday, they might be able to become as well off as possible.

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