(Photo credit: UN World Youth Report 2011)
Emad Karim is one busy youth leader. Besides working at a youth & development consultancy institute, he was one of the contributors to the World Youth Report 2011, focusing on youth and unemployment. We asked him to share his thoughts on youth and unemployment in different parts of the world, why he thought youth should care about the UN, and what youth can do today.
The North-South divide makes it harder for southern youth to compete in a competitive open market, resulting in a wider gap. There is also pressure on the countries from the South to miss a development step and jump into the sustainable development phase while they are struggling for their basic needs. Civil society and UN organizations should work more in increasing the personal and professional capacity of youth to develop and implement youth-led initiatives through increasing access to quality education and investing more in human development.
No generation has ever believed in sustainable development, unity, and the power of global peace than this generation. The events in 2011 that changed the MENA region and spread all over the world highlight a shift in power and influence toward the youth. Our societies believe in our power to change. Now is the time to assert our influence to take that leap of faith about what we believe and turn it into action.
While the UN makes it possible for big forums and events like the UNCSD RIO +20, it is our role to draw the attention of the world into what we aspire for a better tomorrow. We—youth—will be living with the decisions made today; we should care about what kind of future we want.
— Emad Karim
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