The International Youth Day is marked every year on August 12, since 2000. Marking the day sought to create more awareness on the potential of the youths to change the world. Thus, it is an awareness day designated by the United Nations with the purpose to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.
The United Nations (UN) indicated that it is high time to boost the youths’ creativity and their skills to utilize technologies. The application of the latest technologies and innovative ideas are the tangible ways to cope with the worsening global climate change and other natural damages on the earth.
According to the Organization’s report, at this time the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”.
Considering the youths’ impact towards providing successive solutions, efforts are underway to cultivate new initiatives to several challenges across the world.
Recently, the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) has launched a summer camp program with a view to fostering technology improvement and innovation expansion.
Officially launching the program MoLS Minister Muferihat Kamil said that the main objective of the program is to enable Ethiopia to respond to what it wants from technologists; and is the first of its kind in the sector.
MoLS in collaboration with the Federal Technical and Vocational Training Institute launched a “Summer Camp” program aimed at generating problem-solving technological products.
As to her, the program is a platform where related technology and creative ideas are combined to grow and bring about better results.
In order to gain complete independence, the program would contribute a lot to the country’s economy by supporting citizens with bright minds and special creative skills to turn their ideas into rewarding outcomes, she noted.
She said: “What we are right now aspiring is creating poverty free Ethiopia where citizens live with respect and democracy prevails and enabling skilled professionals to contribute to their country by developing their innovative ideas.”
The technology and creative ideas help the owners combine knowledge and wisdom to make Ethiopia competitive with other countries. Therefore, the program is a combination of close technology and innovative ideas to develop better outcomes, she said.
Federal Technical Institute General Director Biruk Keder (PhD), on his part said that the program will help create new technologies and improve the existing ones.
Skill development is necessary to create jobs and back the country registering remarkable growth in terms of development and economy. This Summer Camp program aims to create new technologies and improve the existing ones, too.
The General Director added that about 500 technology and innovation owners will participate in the Summer Camp program. Apart from working together and sharing experience, the program is a good platform to gain experience with large and successful companies.
More importantly, fostering an enabling environment for the youths will have a greater contribution to facilitate important information sharing platforms and promote discussions and an exchange of ideas on green skills for youth.
So far, the active participation of international organizations, national governments and young experts working in the area is important to motivate the new generation and bring about effective solutions to any problems.
Accordingly, Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres underscored that young people must be equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, more climate-resilient future.
The UN Chief made the remark in his message on the International Youth Day which was observed on Saturday under the Theme: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.”
“From innovative sustainable technologies and renewable energy, to revolutions in transportation systems and industrial activity, young people must be equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, and more climate resilient future,” said the Secretary-General in his message.
Guterres Stressed that humanity depends on the boundless energy, ideas and contributions of youth everywhere, he said: “Today and every day, let’s support and stand with young people in shaping a just and sustainable world, for people and the planet.”
He further pointed out that across all of today’s challenges, young people are calling for bold and accelerated action, standing in solidarity with the most vulnerable, and designing solutions to ensure social, economic and climate justice, and peace and prosperity for all.
“To expand their participation, I recently launched a policy brief calling for governments to make youth participation the norm, rather than the exception, across decisions and policies around the world.”
Every year, International Youth Day celebrates the determination, ideas and leadership of young people as we pursue a better world, he said.
In sum, technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies targets to bringing swift solutions to global climate problems and motivate youths’ interaction towards improving human’s life. Technologies could also be a source of massive job opportunities and become a tangible solution to alleviate the growing unemployment rate. Thus, the government should give due priority to the effective utilization of technologies among the new generations.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD 27 AUGUST 2023
