International Youth Day was established by the United Nations on 12 August 2000 to draw attention to issues facing the youth such as poverty, mental health and education. It was also created to recognise and encourage the contributions that young people make in our communities, education, non-profit organisations and politics. It is critical that we not only encourage young people to voice their problems but equip them with the skills and resources to solve them.
At Baytree, we strive to empower young girls to speak their minds and gain the confidence they need to turn their aspirations into realities. Our Spark programme encourages youth engagement by helping girls to develop academically and personally. Through workshops, mentoring, leadership programmes and young volunteering, we work to tackle issues facing young women and girls.
The theme of this year’s International Youth Day is intergenerational solidarity and creating a world for all ages. Collaboration between adults and the youth is necessary for long lasting and successful development. Today is all about recognising the barriers to intergenerational solidarity such as age based discrimination and encouraging organisations and communities to tackle this issue head on.
At Baytree, we value the importance of intergenerational solidarity. We host numerous mother and daughter workshops where they can learn new skills such as self defence or have fun being creative together by making props for the theatre.
Different generations may struggle to understand and communicate with each other which can cause conflict. However, a solution to this can be finding common ground by working on something new to learn and grow together. We can make positive change by creating spaces that encourage dialogue and collaboration between generations. It is in these environments that we recognise that our differences are strengths and can serve to bring generations together rather than pulling them apart.
Celebrate international youth day by spreading awareness about intergenerational solidarity, supporting young people in voicing their concerns and taking action.
