Youth are the most dynamic section of any population and with an optimistic worldview, they are ready to be harbingers of change and shape the future of humanity.
So, it really is a matter of responsibility to equip young people with education and skills they require to build the foundation of a better world.
July 15 was declared as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
The UN designated day seeks to bring the strategic importance of equipping young people with education and skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship into the limelight.
This year, World Youth Skills Day will be celebrated against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and it's severe effect on the youth.
Why is World Youth Skills Day important?
On December 18, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring July 15 as the World Youth Skills Day.
Sri Lanka initiated this resolution to highlight the importance of youth skills development at a global level. The goal is to help the youth develop skills needed for employment, achieve better socio-economic conditions in the near future, and support environmental sustainability.
The UN appointed day creates several platforms for dialogue between young people and policy makers to introspect and understand the changes needed and the significance of skill development.
World Youth Skills Day 2021 Theme
The theme of this year's World youth skills day is 'Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic.'
According to United Nations, youth have been even more severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis than adults. It has had an effect on education and training due to closure of institutions worldwide, and the subsequent shift to online learning. Globally, ILO estimates show that youth employment fell by 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults.
World Youth Skills Day 2021 will pay tribute to the resilience and adaptability of youth through the crisis and discuss priorities they should adopt for the post-COVID-19-world.
Events
On July 15, you can join an online panel discussion, organised by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, ILO, and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, on the topic World Youth Skills Day 2021: Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic.
You can register for the event here - Register here
