International Youth Day 2025

Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished, Kofi Annan

International Youth Day (IYD) is commemorated each year on 12 August to spotlight youth issues globally and celebrate the power and potential of young people as partners in shaping a better world. It serves as a reminder of the critical role youth play in addressing today’s challenges and driving solutions for a more sustainable future.

As young people increasingly step up to lead and advocate on global issues, it is essential to create enabling environments that support their full participation. Formal institutions must do more to provide inclusive spaces and meaningful opportunities for youth to engage, lead, and thrive.

How is Act4Food Driving Youth Action?

At Act4Food, we aim to empower young people to drive transformation at local, national and global scales, and demand action from governments and businesses. We do this through the GAIN Youth Leadership Program that creates a space for youth leaders to learn, collaborate, and act. The program is concluded with an in-person workshop where the youth leaders can lead capacity-building sessions and engage with experts to improve their skills and knowledge, in order to create healthier, just, and more sustainable, nutritious food systems through youth-led campaigns.

This year, three youth-led campaigns, also known as collective actions, have been launched in over 15 countries. The School Nutrition Campaign advocates for equitable access and provision of nutritious meals for school-aged children through school gardens and nutrition workshops, both locally in 9 countries and globally. The Indigenous Food Campaign aims to revive indigenous food systems by promoting awareness amongst youth on the role of indigenous and local foods in promoting health, sustainability, and culture. Workshops, cooking demonstrations, and food festivals will be implemented globally and across 10 countries. The Multinational Corporations’ Influence on Food Systems Campaign focuses on addressing growing concerns around the role of big companies in promoting unhealthy diets. It mobilizes youth to advocate for healthier, more transparent food systems by pushing for stronger regulations and accountability. Through active participation in national and global policy spaces, young people are working to shape more equitable food environments and spotlight practices that undermine public health.

Act4Food youth leaders are funded to attend key global forums such as Nutrition4Growth (N4G), the World Health Assembly (WHA), the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4) and the Africa Food System Forum (AFSF). We link our youth leaders with various key partners to advance their campaigns, as we believe that it is not only the responsibility of youth to transform our food systems, but a collective and collaborative effort from a range of stakeholders. We call to Governments, policymakers, private sector and many more, to create environments that support healthy eating, ensure food security, and promote opportunities for youth engagement and employment in the food system. Engaging youth in policy-making processes, advocating for youth-friendly policies, and promoting youth leadership and participation in decision-making can lead to more inclusive and effective policies that address the needs and priorities of young people.

Resources

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