The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Mr Ahmad Alhendawi, is working with colleagues in the UN to bring the organisation closer to youth and to respond to the needs of young people around the world. As Envoy, Mr Alhendawi travels the world to advocate with governments and non-government partners to work with and for young people and ensure that the world is a better place for this generation and generations to come.

On this year’s International Youth Day, Mr Alhendawi spent his time in Uruguay at the Latin American Youth Forum and later in the field where he spent time with marginalized youth. He visited four villages and met brilliant young people with big dreams. He said “The UN is proud to help bringing them back to education after they dropped out. I told them that education brings opportunities and opportunities bring hope, and that we can’t live without hope. The United Nations came here today to tell you how proud of you we are and that we stand with the youth”.

On the International Youth Day, Mr Alhendawi also extended special thanks to all colleagues in the UN system who are dedicating their careers to youth empowerment, and thanked all youth workers around the world.

12 Auguts IYD