International Youth Day - ENYC

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers of Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day (A/RES/54/120). Over the last two decades, the annual International Youth Day celebrations have covered a wide array of themes relevant to young people, from food security and mental health to intergenerational solidarity and green skills, highlighting critical connections between youth and sustainable development. International Youth Day 2024 was themed “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.

The United Nations launched International Youth Day in 1998 to elevate youth issues within the international community and celebrate the potential of youth as partners in our global society.

In Eswatini, through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, the International Youth Day is commemorated to highlight the crucial role young people play in society, raise awareness about the challenges they face, and celebrate their contributions to achieving sustainable development goals, essentially acting as a platform to empower youth voices and advocate for their needs on a global stage. Over the years, the Council has managed to bring together thousands of young people during the 12^th of August to discuss pertinent issues for each theme. 

In implementing the International Youth Day throughout the year, the Council coordinates programs and activities that promote the theme for that particular year and these align perfectly with the Sustainable Development Goals, National Youth Policy and other strategic youth development documents. This has resulted in positive outcomes such as partnerships with NGOs and other State-Owned Enterprises. In promoting green skills, the Council managed to collaborate with Limkokwing University of Technology and the Ministry of Tourism in launching the Tourism Month which was themed Tourism and Green Investments, participate at The Zimbabwe Green and Energy Expo in collaboration with the Zimbabwe sunshine group and collaborate with the Joint-River Basin Authority in hosting the Eswatini Youth in Water Indaba. In the recent IYD, themed Youth Digital Pathways, the Council joined the Ministry of ICT in reviewing of the draft broadcasting regulations, supported by the UNDP and UNFPA participated at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2024 themed Jobs for Youth Through Innovative Skilling, collaborated with Junior Achievement Eswatini and UNICEF in empowering 74 youth with Digital Skills at ENYCs Ludzeludze Youth Centre and partnered with the Ministry of Education in engaging youth owned companies to develop a digital system for the Ministry.