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Across Latin America and the Caribbean, young leaders are rising to confront the climate crisis, advocate for justice, and build resilient communities.
When he began practicing medicine several years ago, Dr. Jürgen Adam Sánchez believed his role was to treat diseases. However, working closely with migrant children and adolescents, he quickly realized that the deepest pain is often not physical but rooted in the stories these young migrants carry with them along their journeys. Sánchez is a Mexican physician specializing in public health based in Hermosillo, Sonora. At 29, he has served as a shelter coordinator, university professor, and activist. Sánchez advocates for compassionate healthcare and believes in the potential of migrant youth to break cycles of violence, emphasizing the importance of strong peer support networks alongside access to services. He is committed to creating a fairer world for migrants.
Kabelo Motlhophe never thought he would move from a cleaning job to a leadership role in local government. After witnessing a civic education workshop while cleaning, he became intrigued and decided to join the training sessions by Activate! Change Drivers, a youth empowerment network. This led him to run for election as a ward councillor in Mamelodi, where he won in 2021. Motlhophe credits the training, especially on public participation rights, as key to his success. Activate! partners with UN Human Rights Regional Office for Southern Africa to promote youth engagement in civic life and participation in public affairs.
Young people are at the forefront of global transformation. With more than 1.2 billion youth worldwide, their energy, creativity, and activism are vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth in 2025 offers a timely opportunity to renew our commitment to its core principles: youth agency, participation in decision-making processes, and sustainable development. A peaceful and prosperous future depends on the meaningful inclusion of youth everywhere. Explore how youth are shaping a better, more just future for all.
Observed annually on 12 August, International Youth Day raises awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people. This year’s theme, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, urges concrete action to empower youth as partners in development—turning global goals into local solutions for a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Join forces to empower young people's solutions for peace, sustainability, and justice. In line with this, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of 14 young leaders to the third cohort of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. #YouthDay
A group of 45 young human rights advocates from all over the world gathered recently in Geneva for a Youth Rights Academy. They emphasized the importance of knowing their rights to create real change, with speakers like Avril Murillo from Bolivia and Yara Al-Zinati from Gaza highlighting how young people understand the urgency of the situation today. The Academy was set up through a partnership between UN Human Rights and Qatar’s Education Above All, focusing on empowering youth, especially in conflict zones. They previously launched a Youth Advocacy Toolkit to help with this mission. During the Academy, participants engaged in workshops covering various topics such as international law, education rights, the climate crisis, and how to use social media for advocacy.
UN Women spoke with four young changemakers who are localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through bold feminist leadership. Their message is clear: invest in youth-led action, especially by young women and girls.
On its 10th anniversary, World Youth Skills Day (15 July) focuses on empowering youth through artificial intelligence (AI) and digital learning. Today, 7 in 10 young people—some 450 million—are disconnected from economic opportunities due to a lack of adequate skills. From basic literacy to advanced digital and AI skills, empowering young people helps them not only adapt, but lead change. On this day, add your voice to the global celebration! Use #WorkLifeReady and #YouthLead to share your story and uplift others on the path to success.
As key agents of change, the current generation of young people must increase food production, replace an aging workforce, and adapt to increasing extreme climate events. With 1.3 billion individuals aged 15 to 24 globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released a comprehensive report titled “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems,” which examines and emphasizes the crucial role of youth in transforming agrifood systems to improve food security, nutrition, and economic opportunities.
With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.
In this episode of The Development Podcast, we hear from one young person about their journey into the world of work and what the World Bank Group is doing to address one of the most urgent issues facing development: how to meet the stable employment aspirations of the developing world's fast-growing youth population.
Things should be looking good for young people in the world of work, but they’re not. While unemployment among young workers between 15 and 24 has recovered from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s a growing epidemic of unhappiness among those workers in both the developed and now the developing world. So, what is to be done? This podcast asks David Blanchflower, a professor at Dartmouth College, renowned labour economist and recognized expert on youth employment, what can be done.
This year's World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) focuses on "youth and future generations," in line with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Summit of the Future. Activities will mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by sharing its lessons with children and youth. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) urges at-risk countries to update evacuation routes, install warning systems, and raise awareness among young people. They also urge youth and educational institutions to play an online game to learn life-saving skills.
By 2050, cities will house 70% of the global population, and 60% of urban residents will be under 18 by 2030, underscoring the urgency for action particularly where poverty and inequality persist. World Cities Day focuses on this, showcasing youth innovation and strategies for implementation. Initiatives like the Pact for the Future aim to raise youth voices in sustainability discussions, while the past Summit of the Future provided a platform for their perspectives on global policy. Proposed actions include forming youth councils and keeping dialogue between young people and policymakers.
Increasing disasters, many driven by climate change, threaten children worldwide. In 2022, flooding in Chad, Gambia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh affected the highest number of children in 30 years. Education can empower children to protect themselves and become agents of change, aligning to reduce global disaster risks. The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October) focuses on the role of education in protecting and empowering children for a disaster-free future, which aligns with the Summit of the Future's priorities.