International Youth Day is a global celebration dedicated to the contributions, aspirations and potential of young people around the world. This special celebration is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges young people face while highlighting their innovative ideas and positive impact on society.
International Youth Day enables young people to take an active role in every community they participate in. It also encourages them to voice their opinions and participate in shaping a better future.
International Youth Day was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1999. Sourced from the official website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this commemoration originated from the recommendations of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth held in Lisbon, on August 8-12, 1998.
International Youth Day 2024 Theme
Every year International Youth Day is celebrated with a different theme. The theme is related to specific issues faced by adolescents. This year the theme is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways to Sustainable Development” with the slogan “Empowering Youth, Building the Future”.
The selection of this theme aims to highlight youth-led digital initiatives and solutions and those that involve youth. Quoted from un.org, young people are leading the way in terms of digital adoption and innovation.
Three-quarters of those aged 15 to 24 use the internet by 2022, a higher rate than any other age group. However, there are still gaps, especially in low-income countries and among young women, who often have less access to the internet and digital skills than their male counterparts.
Efforts to Overcome the Digitalization Gap
In the Indonesian context, there are certainly efforts to overcome the digitalization gap. Quoting from indonesia.un.org, Gita Sabhwarwal, Chief Representative of the United Nations in Indonesia, at the International Youth Day Commemoration event in Jakarta on Saturday (10/08/2024), said, “Digital technology is vital in helping to bridge gaps, create opportunities, and drive innovation in all sectors of society. Through our partnership with the Indonesian government, we are committed to ensuring these benefits reach all corners of the country, especially impacting the lives of youth in remote communities.”
The involvement of youth in remote areas in digitization efforts is crucial. Their involvement ensures that the benefits of technology reach all segments of society, contributing to a more balanced and inclusive development. Young people are expected to harness the transformative power of technology to drive change and create digital solutions and innovations to face global challenges.
Celebrating with Positive Activities
To commemorate International Youth Day 2024, young people can carry out various activities as a form of creativity, both in the digital and social worlds. For example, creating youth dialogues with topics that are relevant to them, organizing cultural events, and holding social media campaigns.
In today’s dynamic digitalization era, it is also very important for young people to have a sense of empathy. Hopefully, young people will not only become active users of technology, but also users who have a positive impact and can utilize technology wisely.
Translator: Pangkuh Ajisoko
Writer: Dewanti Nurcahyani
Editor: Teuku Zulman Sangga Buana
