The majority of the billions of people around the world who are affected by fragility and conflict are the youths. This observation was made by Minister Nicolette Henry even as International Youth Day is celebrated.
Given issues youths are faced with, Henry said that it is mandatory for governments, Non Governmental Organisations and other stakeholders to work along with young people to help reduce the violence that has uprooted the world.
“I encourage the young people to take some time to reflect on the role they can play in building peace,” said Minister Henry.
According to her, young people have historically been the vanguard of social change. As such she noted, “young students or activists started and led many peaceful revolutions. Young people often have time, energy, creativity, initiative and divergent thinking to develop more peaceful ways of being together.”
For this reason, the Minister said that youths have in their power to build peaceful environments which could eventually lead to a peaceful world.
As such the Minister said the importance of youth in building peace cannot be treated lightly. Moreover, the Education Ministry through its Department of Culture, Youth and Sport will continue to empower young people by way of training, coaching and mobilisation so that they can interact with one another and be involved in decision making nationally, said Minister Henry. “Our youths deserve a satin decisions that will affect their lives,” she added.
International Youth Day is celebrated annually around the world on August 12. This year the day is being observed under the theme ‘youth building peace.’