For this year’s International Youth Day, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, left Headquarters in New York and traveled to the Philippines to celebrate with Filipino youth.

Joining representatives from civil society, government, the private sector, and international organizations, the Envoy kicked off International Youth Day delivering the opening keynote to the 3rd Asian Youth Forum hosted by the Asian Development Bank in Manila. In his remarks he highlighted the role of Asia’s youth in driving and sustaining development in the region.

Later in the day the Envoy visited the SM Skydome where nearly 2,000 Filipino youth had gathered to celebrate International Youth Day!

Young attendees were honored by the National Youth Commission for their work on behalf of Filipino youth:

During the celebrations the Envoy met with Youth Ambassadors, government officials, and observed workshops and exhibits on youth advocacy. He also received the Youth Agenda from the National Youth Commission:

While at the International Youth Day Celebration the Envoy delivered a speech emphasizing this year’s theme of “Youth Civic Engagement in Agriculture and Fisheries”: