The theme of International Youth Day 2020, “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to point up the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.
At the organization level we celebrated this day by organizing an online event to celebrate and mainstream young people’s voices, actions and engagement. The aim of the event was to acknowledge the importance of youth participation in political, economic and social life.
This event was an opportunity for our members, volunteers and young people to share their experience related to the Erasmus+ KA1 projects which they attended representing our organization.
Mentimeter was used to collect participants’ answers to the question “What were your main motivations for taking part in Erasmus+ KA1 projects?” By using this tool we engaged our audience better and helped them to feel involved in the activity, encouraging them to cooperate and express their feelings.
Participants were also introduced to the European Solidarity Corps initiative which offers young people the opportunity to volunteer or work in projects in the own country and abroad, contributing to the European community.
COVID-19 outbreak and Climate Change
The vast majority of challenges humanity currently faces, such as the COVID-19 outbreak and climate change require concerted global action and the meaningful engagement and participation of young people to be addressed effectively.
Youth engagement through the following three interconnected streams
Engagement at the local/community level; Engagement at the national level (formulation of laws, policies, and their implementation); Engagement at the global level.
In 1999, the General Assembly 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.