INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2022: INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY- CREATING A WORLD FOR ALL AGES
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by
Gabriel
With a mandate to advance sustainable agriculture and eradicate hunger, Sustainable Agro and Hunger Eradication (SAHE) Foundation promotes Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Our target is to end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round, especially the youths. This is why the focus of this year’s International Youth Day is so germane to our policy programmes.
The objective of this year’s International Youth Day theme, Intergenerational solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages, is to amplify the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind. The 2022 International Youth Day intends also to raise awareness on certain barriers to intergenerational solidarity, notably ageism, which impacts young and old persons, while having detrimental effects on society as a whole.
The Global Report on Ageism launched by the United Nations in March 2021 highlights the many data gaps that exist with regards to ageism against youth. Despite this lack of research, young people continue to report age-related barriers in various spheres of their lives such as employment, political participation, health and justice. On an individual level, these age-related obstacles can deeply impact wellbeing and livelihoods not only during the youth years, but also in adulthood. On a societal level, ageism prevents us from thinking and designing policies and social services that adopt a life-course approach and are fair for all ages.
To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world needs to leverage the full potential of all generations. Solidarity across generations is key for sustainable development. There must be collaboration to foster successful and equitable intergenerational relations and partnerships to ensure “no one is left behind.”
