International Youth Day 2023 shines a light on hope, innovation, and transformation, with its theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.” This theme underscores the potential of young minds to drive positive change. Let’s explore the six pivotal objectives that define this global endeavour and understand their significance:
1. Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility:
The younger generation’s grasp of environmental stewardship is vital for our future. The emphasis on green skills empowers them to make informed choices, fostering a sense of duty to confront issues like climate change, pollution, and resource depletion head-on.
2. Encouraging Sustainable Development Education:
Green skills are not a luxury but a necessity. By integrating sustainable development education into our educational systems, we equip our youth for a versatile workforce. Aligning education with global sustainability goals equips them to excel in a swiftly evolving world.
3. Fostering Employment in Green Industries:
The green economy opens doors for growth and economic empowerment. Prioritizing green skills connects youth with emerging sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, digital content creation, and eco-friendly manufacturing. This not only cultivates fulfilling careers but also drives economic growth in harmony with nature and digital-social transformation.
4. Empowering Youth as Change Agents:
Youth are fountains of innovation and creativity. Nurturing green skills empowers them to lead within their communities, devising impactful solutions. Their ideas catalyse sustainable practices, showcasing youth as dynamic agents of change.
5. Enhancing Regional and Global Collaboration:
Achieving a sustainable world transcends boundaries and demands a united approach. Collaboration across governments, educational institutions, businesses, and stakeholders magnifies the impact of green skills initiatives. This collaboration breaks down barriers, ensuring inclusive pathways to green careers.
6. Integrating Economic Development with Environmental Sustainability:
The dichotomy between economic progress and environmental care is fading. Green skills usher in a new era where growth and ecology coexist. By imparting these skills to the youth, we invest in a future that harmonizes prosperity with planetary well-being.
Our Contribution
As part of an auxiliary research portfolio designed to support the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning of the AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund , Imani developed a series of position papers addressing issues relating to Youth, Gender, Food and Nutrition Security, and Climate Smart Agriculture. AgriFI is a market-led SME agribusiness grant development fund that targets companies with proven track records of working successfully with high numbers of smallholder farmers and pastoralists in Kenya.
The primary purpose of the youth focused position paper was to provide key information to the AgriFI implementation team on the factors that collectively encourage or discourage Kenya’s youth from pursuing agricultural and related agro-processing careers, including macro factors such as demographic and financial asset trends.
We found that the involvement of young people is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Kenya’s food production and security. There is an array of ‘green skills’ young people can acquire to build dynamic and lucrative careers beyond direct farming such as climate-smart technology, marketing and exporting that can add value to the agriculture supply chain and cater to changing consumer preferences. With approximately 1 million new entrants to the job market annually in Kenya, companies that proactively employ and include young individuals can gain a competitive advantage in the short to medium term.
Conclusion: A Commitment to Youth and Sustainability
Overall, the idea of “green skills for youth” emphasizes the importance of empowering young individuals with the necessary skills and opportunities to actively participate in the agricultural sector and beyond.
International Youth Day 2023 is not just a celebration; it’s a commitment. A commitment to our youth, our planet, and our shared future. At the core of this movement is the belief in the boundless potential of our youth. This is a collective effort- governments, institutions, and communities must converge to offer accessible pathways into green careers, ensuring inclusivity and erasing barriers that stand in the way. The creativity, passion, and determination of the youth holds the keys to a sustainable world.
Let’s join hands in supporting them, nurturing their talents, and believing in their vision to build a world that thrives on the principles of sustainability and harmony. Here’s to a future filled with promise, guided by the wisdom and energy of our youth.
About Kayo
Kayo Asiko is a research assistant based in Nairobi, Kenya but works remotely with the team in the Cape Town office. She graduated from the University of Kent with an Upper Second Class Degree in Law and has enrolled for her post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics. Kayo supports senior consultants on several projects through research, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Her areas of focus are regional integration, socioeconomic development, and environmental social governance.