To celebrate International Youth Day, the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety launched an interactive and artistic live stream last Friday, August 13, called “No More Youth Tokenism!”. The event highlighted the fact that the success of different global initiatives could not be achieved without meaningful youth participation through young leaders, decision-makers, and other global leaders.
International Youth Day
The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people. It has been acknowledged that there is a need for inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life.
To support this message, the Global Youth Coalition led a live steam event that featured dynamic conversations and artistic expressions that presented and discussions different ways on how youth could meaningfully participate in transforming our realities, especially road safety and sustainable mobility, intersect within them, willing to achieve human and planetary health.
No More Youth Tokenism
Hosted by award-winning UK journalist, Nelufar Hedayat, the live stream delivered dynamic conversations and artistic interventions that presented and discussed the experiences of young people when it came to meaningful participation in areas like health, road safety, climate action, and inequalities.
The youth panel shared what it was like for them to get involved in all stages of decision-making while also shedding light on the challenges they faced as a young person leading the change within different organizations.
Through an intergenerational dialogue with representatives from global organizations, the perspectives of youth and experienced leaders on youth tokenism were further elaborated on and contextualized within development through the global goals.
From the perspective of their organizations, young leaders shared what they are doing to ensure meaningful youth engagement. Leaders from the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, Restless Development, YOUNGO, and the IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations all shared their experiences about how they were empowered to lead the change in their communities and regions.
“Through the Coalition, I managed to connect with young people from different countries around the world. I have managed to use the assets to benefit from the tools that the Coalition provides ” – Sana’ Khasawneh, Global Youth Coalition
Secretary-General of the UN Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, also shared a message for young people everywhere, saying that today’s generation of young people had the opportunity to be the largest driving force to create meaningful change.
Throughout the session, different artistic interventions were also presented.
The Coalition’s resident artist who had also led the design of the elements behind the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, Mohammed Ali MBE, created a digital painting to highlight the call to end youth tokenism. Throughout the session, the audience would be updated on the progress of his work with footage interlaced with the dialogue.
Members of the Coalition from Youth Arts Movement Uganda (YAMU) led by Kenny Mulinde created and produced a poem and song that talks about the efforts of the Coalition in road safety and youth engagement. Renowned performance poet, Hawa Nanjobe Kimbugwe penned and delivered a moving piece called This Seat at the Table where she presents the importance of meaningful youth involvement and participation.
Apart from the poem, YAMU also produced the official anthem of the Coalition titled Claiming It! It features talented Uganda artists which include; Hawa Nanjobe Kimbugwe, Kwagala Esther, Profet aka “Prince of Africa”, K. Mukwaya Meshack aka “Vann Mesh”, and “Words of Wake”.
The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety supports its members to make the best impact in their respective communities and regions by providing them with resources, opportunities, platforms, partnerships, and more.
Join our efforts to achieve the road safety targets presented in the global goals through the Global Youth Statement and to meaningfully engage and involve youth by signing up!
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