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International Youth Day 2006

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‘Tackling Poverty Together: Young People and the Eradication of Poverty’ is this year’s theme for International Youth Day that is commemorated on 12 August.

International Youth Day 2006 calls to stand up against poverty among young people. The UN states that poverty has many dimensions: hunger and malnutrition; lack of access to education; a lack of participation in decision-making and socio-cultural life.
 
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says that “our challenge is clear: we must pay more attention to education and, in particular, to the transition from education to employment. And the ability of youth to find full and productive employment must be a central objective of national development strategies, including poverty reduction policies.”
The World Youth Report 2005 stated that there are around 209 million young people living on less than 1 USD a day. Around 515 million young people are living on less than 2 USD a day. 
The UN set out eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to end poverty worldwide. Around 51 per cent of the combined population of developing and least developed countries are below the age of 25. The UN warns that if the specific needs of young people are not identified and addressed, the MDGs will not be met.

Read more about how young people are affected by poverty and the events taking place around the world on the UN Youth website. 

What you can do

  • Join Make Poverty History, the global call to action against poverty. This UK-led campaign urges governments to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. The campaign has the support of hundreds of non-governmental organizations including WAGGGS, government leaders, and celebrities from around the world. The symbol of the campaign is the white wrist band.

  • Read what Bianca Jagger says about children and poverty to support The Grow up Free from Poverty coalition. This coalition is made up of 22 non-governmental organization and faith groups including WAGGGS. 

  • Find more ideas what you can do to celebrate the International youth day on the UN Youthday website.

  • Share your experiences and achievements with us! Tell us in the comments section below what you did as a Girl Guide/Girl Scout or at home or at school to tackle poverty.