During the celebration of the United Nations (UN) International Youth Day, youth leaders on Thursday, Aug. 12, urged their fellow youth to make it more “meaningful” by acknowledging situations and barriers that affect young people.

“Let us not be content with saluting and praising the youth with the oft-repeated phrase: ‘the shapers and hope of the future’,” said the Enet Youth Network.

Enet Youth Network is composed of members from Active Genuine Youth Leaders Association (AGYLA), Alyansa ng Mamamayan ng Bagbag Youth (ALMABA), Youth Academic Ease Stakeholders' Solidarity (ACCESS), Kabataan Kontra Kahirapan (KKK), Pinagsamang Lakas ng Kabataan - Unang Hakbang Foundation, PUP Students' Party for Equality and Advancement of Knowledge (SPEAK), SEEDS (Solidarity for Environmental Development and Sustainability) Philippines, Safe Cities Youth Theater Advocacy Group, Santisimo Rosario Integrated High School Supreme Student Government, Singkamas Youth Organization, Unang Hakbang Foundation and Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND).

Instead, the Network urged its fellow youth to mark this day -- which is designated for the youth by the United Nations General Assembly -- by recognizing that in reality, there are challenges that “affect our collective development as young people to prepare us to be leaders and the hope of the future.”

Given this, the Network also called on a “greater collective solidarity” which is crucial to “combat these persisting barriers towards a more humane society where human rights are protected and ensured, equity and social justice are the norms and young people are at the forefront in a society we help to build.”

Rising from the margins

Citing data from the United Nations World Youth Report in 2020, the Network noted that there is an estimated 1.21 billion young people worldwide aged 15 to 24.

“At the same time, the Philippines has the largest generation of young people in its history, with 19.8 million as of January 2020,” the Network said. “Given a supportive environment to develop their full potentials, the Filipino youth is a driving force for sustainable development,” it added.

However, the group noted that a “very high number of young people battling a never-ending cycle of poverty, lack of education, violence, and human rights abuses that restrict their aspirations and prevent them from enhancing their world-changing potentials.”

As the pandemic lingers, the group expressed fear that “more children and youth may be lost to the education system entirely” --- becoming more vulnerable to child labor, trafficking, abuse, and violence.

“The pandemic, exacerbated by home quarantines and loss of livelihood has brought us anxiety, disrupted routines, social stresses, and academic challenges associated with the shift to blended and distance learning,” the group said. “These have been heightened by the lack of or reduced access to physical and psychosocial support,” it added.

Given this, the group called for increased youth participation that will further empower young people, help build communities and remedy a range of social problems. “We can and must rise from the margins! This is our collective responsibility!” it added.

Claiming the future

To claim their future, the group underscored the need to educate the youth for a fair chance to take part in social and economic life actively and productively.

Upholding and securing the right of all young people to quality education at all levels is also crucial to achieve this goal, the group stressed.

Filipino youth, the Network said, must be protected and defended from State terror and violence and spaces for youth participation in the whole process of decision-making to prepare young people to become active and effective citizens must be created and guaranteed.

“We must continue to believe that the youth are capable of becoming the catalysts of positive social changes,” Enet Youth Network said. “We must not be seen as only beneficiaries but agents of our future,” it added.