International Youth Day is celebrated each year on August 12. Established by the United Nations in 1999, International Youth Day brings awareness to the needs of young people and the efforts that need to be made to aid their development. Through our various programs, IFES has seen first-hand that with a little assistance, youth can be a powerful force in improving their societies. They bring enthusiasm, stamina and a unique perspective to the table that is often deeply needed in the political process.

Engaging young people is often best done by tailoring programs to their needs and interests. IFES has implemented a number of programs to this effect.

In 2010, IFES founded the first debate club in Afghanistan to give young Afghans the opportunity to enhance their public speaking, research and critical thinking skills, as well as their self-confidence. The program began with three schools in Kabul, including Bakhtar, Kardan and Karwan Institutes of Higher Education. In 2011, the debate program expanded to four additional schools, including American University of Afghanistan in Kabul as well as three universities in Balkh, Herat and Nangarhar provinces. For more information, click here.

In Kyrgyzstan, IFES organizes Democracy Camps for young people throughout the country. Tailored to high school students, the 10-day camps are intended to develop students’ problem-solving skills and promote values such as leadership, responsibility and civic participation. The camps use lectures, group work, competitions, theater and sports to encourage students to contribute to a stronger democratic society. The success of the camps is heartening. Not only do many alumni remain in touch with the program administrators, one ran for office and returned to the camps to speak. For more information, click here.  

In advance of Moldova’s parliamentary elections in 2010, IFES helped launch an election information campaign based on the Moldovan folk song “Lume, lume” (“People, people”). Rap composer Eduard Lopatenco and young vocalist Victoria Tarasenco produced a modern version of the song with new lyrics seeking to unite people of different ages, cultures and social status and encouraging them to cast ballots. The hip-hop version of “Lume, lume” became the centerpiece for a youth campaign and was a widespread phenomenon. In addition to attracting thousands of viewers on YouTube, the song inspired a website encouraging youth to record and share their own versions of the song. To view a video of “Lume, lume,” click here.

On International Youth Day, IFES salutes the youth of the world and their efforts to strengthen democracy and shape their future.