United Nations Youth Forum – What is The Future of Work
Young people around the world are facing difficulties that older generations do not struggle with. Getting involved is an important step in making
Young people are three times more likely to be unemployed according to 2017 research, shares the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, during the mornings Youth Forum. Over at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) Media Zone, a group of passionate individuals gather to discuss how the lack of equal education plays a role in challenges for quality work.
You may be wondering, what is SDG?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The SDG Media Zone brings together well-known personalities, UN Member States, content creators, influencers and media partners to highlight actions and solutions in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through impactful interviews, panel discussions and Ted-talk style events we bring the on conversation achieving the 2030 Agenda out of the policy sphere and into public discourse.
Education for All
Together, our voices, our actions, and the heights our imagination can reach are unstoppable. We will make a difference for a better tomorrow. The great effects of equal plus quality education are a game changer. I’m a big believer in this because I myself am a product of it. My ticket to a better, more successful future was and continues to be my education. And it’s the people I meet along the way that help enhance my experience.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
— Nelson Mandela
Once I found my partner, Jeff Fransen, we became unstoppable ….
The Panels
Moderated by Natasha Harris-Harb – UN Girl’s Education Initiative – begins the panel discussion by asking “are we equipping young people with the right tools to succeed?” and “what can young people do to influence policy?”
Victoria Ibiwoye, Director of One African Child Foundation for Creative Learning, says:
The future of work is going to become more diverse and more connected.
The more connected we are, the more we work with people around the world. We live in a world where we rely on global partnership and that’s why we have to come together to work towards sustainable ways.
Jacob Thomas, Queen’s Young Leader and Human Rights Activist shares:
We need to be able to see ourselves in these systems to be part of these systems.
It’s important for young people to be able to envision themselves working within the systems they want to see changed. It takes some trailblazers to have vision before others can see people they identify with in the roles already. Those trailblazers already do exist and should be admired.
One of the things that
There is a mismatch of skills that young people are taught in school relative to what skills are in demand.
– Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization
Young people are graduating from school and still lack the skills that employers want leading to a tremendous level of inefficiency in society.
Madelle Kangha, United Nations Young Leader for the SDGs talks about the necessity of bringing many viewpoints to the table to make real progress.
There needs to be more conversation that includes young people from all walks of life. We need to have more dialogue between young people and governments to help create the future of work together.
The future of work will face many challenges due to a changing climate, automation, etc. and the key is giving young people a seat at the table when it comes to policy, and teaching life skills and soft skills in school so that we can learn to help each other and help ourselves.
How to get involved …
@UNECOSOC President & @UNYouthEnvoy welcome you to the Youth Forum, the largest gathering of young people and youth ministers at the @UN. Join the conversation on Twitter by using #Youth2030 & #SDGLive!
