(Photo taken by Allison Kwesell, Intern, UNO Baku)

On a bright 12 August Sunday morning, Azerbaijani youth gathered in Baku to celebrate International Youth Day at a conference organized by UNO Baku, in partnership with the US-Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association and European Movement Azerbaijan. The conference spotlighted this year’s theme, “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth,” to explore the ways that different student and youth-led organizations can partner with other stakeholders in enhancing Azerbaijani and global society. It also aimed at promoting ways to engage youth in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

The event highlighted how young people in Azerbaijan can affect change not only in Azerbaijan, but also around the world. The audience was able to share ideas and raise their concerns on issues affecting the youth today. The gathering also proved to be a great opportunity to look back and reflect on the achievements attained by Azerbaijani youth since the country’s independence.

In observance of International Youth Day, UNIC Dhaka organized a roundtable discussion on 12 August. The Bangladeshi Mount Everest conquerors Nishat Mazumder and M.A. Mohit were the main attraction to the young audiences as they shared their views about how youth can contribute to build a better world. Christa Rader, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, a.i. graced the occasion as Chief Guest while Saida Muna Tasneem, Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke as Guest of Honour. At the roundtable, different youth groups from the city took part in the open discussion. The UNIC Officer-in-Charge  moderated the programme. Among others Dr. Taufique Joardar and Dr. Syed Md. Saikh Imtiaz from UN Youth & Student Association, and Channel i youth icon Samia Said spoke on the occassion. The UN Secretary-General’s Message for the Day was also read at the event.

UNIC Manama joined Bahrain’s General Organization for Youth & Sports (GOYS) in commemorating International Youth Day under the theme “Building a Better World: Partnership with Youth.” The event which took place at the Sofitel Hotel was attended by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Youth & Sports (SCYS), HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Vice Chairman of SCYS, Mr Hisham Al Jowder, President of GOYS, UNIC Director Nejib Friji, as well as hundreds of youth who were awarded for their outstanding achievements.  During the event, the UNIC Director delivered the UN Secretary-General's message for the Day and was awarded a shield by HH Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa in recognition of the UN’s outstanding youth initiatives in Bahrain and in the world.

I can see it
I can see the rising sun
Of love and brotherhood;
I can feel the falling raindrops
Of equality, secularism and democracy;
Yes. I can see the pole star,
Shining, glowing
Like the future I want!
The future we want!

A poem by 16 year-old Rupak Saxena, student of Class XI, Hans Raj Senior Smarak Secondary School, New Delhi
 
It was a perfect celebration of International Youth Day. Over 500 young students from 30 schools from North India gathered outside the UN House in Delhi where their march was flagged off by UNIC New Delhi's Director Kiran Mehra-Kerpelmen and co-organizer Dhirendra Bhatnagar, Secretary-General of the Confederation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations of India (CUCAI).
 
The youth convoy marched to a neighboring historical Mughal monument, Safdarjung Tomb, where they were joined by officials from the Archaeological Survey of India, including the Director-General Gautam Sen Gupta.
 
Against the fabulous backdrop of the monument, the UNIC Director explained to the students the significance of the Day, and what should be the nuts and bolts of the future they should aspire for:  “A future without conflict, without hunger and poverty;  Where all are educated;  Where women are treated as equal members of society;  Where health of mothers and their newborns is assured;  Where good health is assured for all;  Where our natural environment can be protected;  Where human rights of all can be assured;  A future that is inclusive;  A future that provides for political participation and democracy;  A future without drug abuse and intoxication;  Respect for Cultural Diversity;  Promotion of International Understanding, Fraternity and Tolerance; and Safeguarding our Common Heritage, etc.”

This was followed by an exhilarating  two-hour pageant in which students delivered speeches, poems, sang, danced and presented short plays articulating the voices of the youth in India today, giving out a loud and clear message for the Future They Want.