This generation of young people is the largest in history. Because of this, it is now more important than ever before to make sure today’s youth are fully engaged in social and legal issues. When we consider the current COVID-19 pandemic, growing environmental changes, and the technology youth will need to keep up with – coupled with the rise in inequality and increase in conflict – it’s easy to see why World Youth Skills Day 2022 is an especially important one.

But what exactly is World Youth Skills Day? When was this event founded and what happens during it? The main purpose of World Youth Skills Day is exactly as it sounds – to provide youth with the skills and education to access better work and to develop their skills. World Youth Skills Day aims to break down the barriers that can prevent some young people from accessing work, and to boost productivity and wage levels among youth around the world.

When is World Youth Skills Day?

World Youth Skills Day is held on Friday 15th July 2022.

What is the history of World Youth Skills Day?

On the 15th of July 2014, the United Nations General Assembly held its first World Youth Skills Day. This was to be a day celebrating the strategic importance of giving young people the skills they will need for good employment, work, and entrepreneurship. 

Ever since this, World Youth Skills Day has continued to provide a one-of-a-kind, crucial opportunity for young people to communicate with technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVET), firms, employee and worker organisations, development partners, and policy makers.

This year, World Youth Skills Day 2022 will take place among the strenuous ongoing work for socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic – a challenge exacerbated by further problems like conflict, climate change, persistent poverty, massive technological change, growing inequality, demographic transition and more.

Why is World Youth Skills Day so important?

World Youth Skills Day works for the inclusion of girls and young women, young people with disabilities, young people from poorer households, young indigenous people, young people living in rural communities, and those suffering from the consequences of violent conflict and political instability. 

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays an important role during World Youth Skills Day. The current ongoing changes to the world of work have been accelerated by the pandemic and other problems mentioned, too – this makes the work of World Youth Skills Day 2022 work more important than ever.

Why are the global goals for World Youth Skills day so important?

Did you know that the United Nations has 17 targets they aim to address by 2030? Known as the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, or the Global Goals, this global initiative aims to end poverty and help produce sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. 

One of the Sustainable Development Goals is Goal 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Increasing access to affordable and high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays an important role during World Youth Skills Day. After all, TVET can promote economic, social, and environmental development by helping young people and adults alike attain the skills and training they need for good employment, work and entrepreneurship TVET can ensure recognition for a youth’s skills, and even provide skill development opportunities for those who are under-employed, unemployed, or youth not in education, employment or training.

With the challenges that COVID-19 and climate change are bringing, in combination with ongoing humanitarian emergencies and conflicts like the Afghanistan crisis and Ukraine emergency, it is more important than ever right now that all young people get a chance to speak up for the things they find important and get the opportunity to develop, no matter where they live.

Why do we celebrate World Youth Skills Day?

The main reason why we celebrate World Youth Skills Day is so that young people can have their voices heard and the contributions they are making to the world around them acknowledged. 

However, World Youth Skills Day 2022 will also provide a chance to tackle the cultural and legal issues young people experience, as well as to provide youth with all the skills and training they will need in this rapidly shifting world of work.

Whether self-employment or skills development for unemployed or under-employed people, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other opportunities will provide the qualifications and training for young people to thrive.

How can I support World Youth Skills Day 2022?

All young people should have access to the opportunities and training they need to excel in the world of work, especially our modern, constantly-changing one. You can help by sending a donation to the areas it is most needed. This will mean that your donation is allocated to the areas that will have the greatest impact on the elimination of child poverty.

You can also sign on to donate monthly to ChildFund this World Youth Skills Day 2022. This way, your support will last long beyond World Youth Skills Day, helping 1,000 children in one year to obtain the support that they need to thrive.