August 12, 2024, marks International Youth Day, a global event dedicated to recognizing the contributions of young people and highlighting the challenges they face. This year’s theme, “Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future,” emphasizes the critical role of young people in shaping a more sustainable and equitable world.
International Youth Day serves as a platform to celebrate the diverse talents and innovations of youth across the globe. It encourages young people to engage in discussions about their needs and aspirations, while advocating for their active participation in decision-making processes. Events are held worldwide, including forums, workshops, and cultural performances, all aimed at fostering dialogue and collaboration among the youth.
As society acknowledges the immense potential of young people, International Youth Day 2024 also underscores the importance of investing in their education, health, and well-being. By empowering youth through opportunities and resources, we can build a more inclusive and forward-thinking future for everyone.
Mr. Sony Thomas, Executive Director, CBM India: “On this International Youth Day, CBM India joins the world in celebrating young people’s power to drive change. On this day, we think it’s important to bring attention to young people with disabilities who, despite their potential and resilience, often face significant obstacles to education, healthcare, employment, and social participation, and are more likely to experience discrimination and inequality. Our mission is to break down these barriers and build a society that cherishes diversity and promotes inclusion.
This year’s theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, offers a chance to reimagine a future where technology is an enabler, not a barrier. By investing in digital accessibility and inclusion, we can empower young people with disabilities to become active participants in society and decision-making.
Today, we also celebrate the achievements of young people—with and without disabilities—who are driving forces behind digital adoption, innovation, and accessibility. Their creativity is transforming the digital landscape, demonstrating technology can bridge divides and unlock potential for all.
Let’s work together to create a world where inclusion is the norm, and every young person has the opportunity to shine.”
Mr. Rohan Rai, Co-Founder, Edupull: “Gone are the days of traditional offline education. Today, technology plays a crucial role in students’ lives, from charting career paths to personalized counseling. With tools like AI, students can now leverage their strengths to achieve their full potential. In fact, a recent report by the United Nations estimates that “digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70% of the 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals while potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals by up to 55 trillion dollars.” In fact, even in India, the growing importance of digital literacy has been echoed at the central level – the National Education Policy 2020 makes many references to “digital literacy”, proposing the creation of a National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), which would be tasked with the use of technology in education.
As we celebrate International Youth Day today, themed “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” it’s clear that young people are at the heart of this digital transformation. This theme underscores the significant role youth play in leveraging digital technologies to drive progress toward sustainable development. Students today are uniquely positioned to harness the power of AI and other digital tools to make a substantial impact on their education and future careers.
We at Edupull are proud to be at the forefront of integrating AI into education. By offering personalized learning paths, intelligent tutoring systems, and data-driven insights, Edupull is enhancing student performance and preparing them for a sustainable future.”