Today, the UNESCO has decided to declare the first World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) in order to “raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development.” This years’ theme is “Youth skills for work and life in the post-2015 agenda,” and is part of their Sustainable Development Initiative.
This is what they have to say about it:
With the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UNESCO’s Education for All (EFA) campaign coming to their term in 2015, more young people than ever around the world have gained access to education. This has sparked career expectations and raised hopes for a better future in many young people. Education, skills and jobs are rated high in people’s priorities for development: in the global My World 2015 Survey, young people up to the age of 30 across all regions and education levels rated education as their number one priority, with better job opportunities being the third priority. Yet globally,
youth represent 25% of the total working age population but make up 40% of the unemployed (ILO, FAO, 2013).
almost 74 million young people (aged 15 to 24) were looking for work in 2014 (ILO, 2015).
two thirds of youth in developing economies are without work, not studying, or engaged in irregular or informal employment (UNDP, 2014).
never before have there been so many young people on the planet: 1.8 billion people are aged 10 to 24 (UNFPA, 2014).
the working-age population is poised to more than double in the least-developed countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2015 and 2050 (UNFPA, 2014).
the youth unemployment situation is common to all regions in the world and is happening despite improvements in average educational attainment (ILO, 2015).
If you’d like to celebrate this day with UniversalGiving, consider donating to these deserving organizations that aim to give all youths the tools they need for success!
One Mobile Projector per Trainer: OMPT has a mission to help educate the world's poorest billion people with low-cost technology. Our goal of equipping 10 million trainers with portable media players supports the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals. Portable Media Players (PMPs) allow village educators to give their students enhanced learning via recorded voices and lessons from the most proficient teachers in their nation.
Develop Africa: The mission of Develop Africa is to facilitate and establish meaningful and sustainable development in Africa through capacity building and transformational education. It’s estimated that 80% of the African population does not have access to computers. Technology plays a huge role in empowering individuals and qualifying them for better jobs.
Take Action: Donate Towards Buying Computers for Schools
Corazon Roxas Foundation: We are dedicated in assisting, in the most direct way possible, organizations that provide education, housing, or care for children in developing countries. Since our inception in late 2008, we have shipped thousands of pounds of books, clothing, food, toiletries and school supplies to several orphanages and homes for abused girls in the Philippines.
Achungo Community Center: Achungo was started by a local Kenyan to care for village orphans and with U.S. funding has now grown to 270 primary students and 15 new graduates in high school. In order to help 8th grade graduates from our primary school for orphans and destitute to live successful lives, secondary school (high school) education is vital. Contribute toward the scholarships for our graduates who otherwise have no money to pay for schooling or the related expenses. They have each passed the Kenyan primary certification exam in order to qualify for secondary and that is quite an achievement!
Yspaniola Incorporated: Yspaniola’s goal is to create access to quality education in Batey Libertad and other marginalized communities in the Dominican Republic. Through their University Scholarship Program, Yspaniola offers full university tuition, room & board, tutoring and professional development training to deserving students.