Empowering the Next Generation in Education and Employment

Tami Aritomi, Kid Reporter Faith Nguyen, Benedicte Mundele Kuvuna, Karen Cadondon

This past April, New York buzzed with excitement as panelists and speakers prepared for the Economic and Social Council Youth Forum held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The annual event is a place where young people come from around the globe to contribute to policy discussions at the United Nations through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations.  

Located near Times Square, the building for this forum was filled with leaders from around the world who are set on helping youth in education and employment. Together, they discuss the obstacles regarding youth retaining academic knowledge and securing jobs when they grow up. Speaker Urmila Sarkar, Deputy Director of Programmes at Generation Unlimited, mentions, “As adults, we are responsible for equipping young people with the right skills for them to thrive and adapt to change.”

Amplifying Youth Education

Many panelists from the forum, “What works to amplify the rights and voices of youth in education and employment?” shared their thoughts on expanding youth rights and amplifying their voices. Panelist H.E. Sroy Socheath, General Secretary of the General Secretariat of the National Youth Development Council of Cambodia agreed, “We need to integrate education into local communities and give them skills that align with the local labor market.” Her insights on youth education and empowerment were particularly impactful, highlighting the global significance of this topic. “It is crucial to prepare teachers with the right material and concept to encourage youth to explore different projects they are passionate about,” said Socheath.

All the speakers shared useful ideas on how to help young people learn important life skills. Eugenia Godoy, Director of Youth, from Uruguay, emphasized this importance and said, “We need to focus on training young people with skills they need for when they grow up.”

As a spectator, I was impressed by the innovation shown by the speakers at the forum. Their contributions highlighted the need to include young voices in discussions about education and jobs around the world.

Transition from School to Work

In the same panel,another important topic was how young people transition from being students to adults with jobs. Many new graduates face challenges when looking for a job. Sarkar states, “There is a lack of experience, access to AI, or digital skills that were taught to them.” Sarkar also mentioned that to help these students with employment, “Adults need to listen to young people and how they define their aspirations and destinies”.

 As a student myself, I want to know how I can empower my peers and help them with education and employment around the world. This is the question the new generation must answer – how to drive change for themselves and future generations, ensuring education and job opportunities are accessible and meaningful for everyone.