August 12, 2010, Begins United Nations International Year of Youth

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The International Youth Foundation (IYF) joins civil society organizations around the globe in celebrating the UN’s International Year of Youth, which begins today. The effort promotes initiatives that harness the energy, imagination and initiative of young people to overcome the challenges facing mankind. The UN-led effort calls upon governments, civil society, individuals, and communities worldwide to support activities at local and international levels that help realize the power and promise of young people.

Many events will get underway this month, including the first-ever Youth Olympics, being held in Singapore; the Fifth World Youth Congress convening in Istanbul; and the World Conference for Youth, taking place in Mexico City.

In keeping with the spirit of the International Year of Youth, and as part of IYF’s 20th anniversary celebrations, IYF will be hosting its own series of events to commemorate two decades of achievement in advancing the cause of young people worldwide. On October 7th, IYF will convene its Youth Leadership & Livelihoods Conference in Washington, DC, where 200 thought leaders representing businesses, governments, and civil society will debate new strategies and identify best practices to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis. Joining the Youth Leadership dialogue will be 20 exceptional young social innovators from around the world who will be in Washington for a weeklong skills building and networking retreat as part of IYF’s YouthActionNet® fellowship program. To wrap up the week’s events, IYF will convene its biennial Global Partners Meeting—a working session of 175 youth-serving organizations from 75 countries who are invited to share their best practices to address the daunting challenges that lie ahead. 

Read how one IYF program in Nairobi, Kenya, is celebrating the International Year of Youth.
 

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