International Youth Day
Celebrating Youth as Global Changemakers ~ Every 12th August
About International Youth Day
IYD is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of international and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today's global society. Youth day is celebrated to inform and make young people aware of what they are capable of in bringing solutions of the present and future.
Youth have become full partners in fighting against many issues in the world thus there is need for enabling youth to engage to their full potential, and formal institutions need to create enabling conditions for youth.
GAIN emphasises involving various stakeholders, including children, young people and their communities, in decision-making processes throughout the project cycle, creating solutions that are more sustainable, relevant, and effective for their specific needs. Youth are both consumers and contributors to food systems.
Younger youth or adolescents are at a critical stage of growth and development and their nutritional needs are unique. Adequate nutrition during adolescence can have long-lasting effects on their health and well-being throughout their lifespans. Youth are engaged across the food system from sustainable agriculture and food production to actively participating in finding solutions to food systems challenges and driving positive change.
GAIN began working on adolescent nutrition in 2017 and has expanded its work to take a broader food systems approach. Our programming is adapted according to children and young people’s ages and Interests, and interaction with the food system
GAIN's Youth Leadership Programme strives to create a common space for young people (aged 18-24) to learn, collaborate and act to create healthier, just, and more sustainable nutritious food systems through youth-led campaigns.
Governments and policymakers have a responsibility to create environments that support healthy eating, ensure food security, and promote opportunities for youth engagement and employment in the food system. Engaging youth in the policymaking process, advocating for youth-friendly policies, and promoting youth leadership and participation in decision-making can lead to more inclusive and effective policies that address the needs and priorities of young people.
Resources and Assets
Measuring Youth Engagement in Policy Processes
While there is a growing recognition of the importance of youth engagement in food system decision-making and governance, existing research remains largely theoretical or anecdotal, with a scarcity of empirical studies providing robust data on the engagement and meaningful participation of young people in food systems. A first step towards providing such data is having strong, validated metrics and data-collection methods that can be applied comparably across contexts. This scoping review thus synthesises evidence on metrics and methods used to assess youth engagement in policy processes, with a specific focus on food system-related policies.
