Celebrating Youths Every 12th August
Every year on 12 August, the world comes together to mark International Youth Day, a moment to recognise and celebrate the energy, creativity, innovation, and resilience of young people.
Established by the United Nations in 1999, the day serves as a reminder that youth are not just beneficiaries of development but powerful partners and leaders in shaping it.
The 2025 theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” highlights how the Sustainable Development Goals—often discussed at high levels—are brought to life through local, community-led initiatives.
It is a call to recognise that global ambitions mean little unless they are translated into tangible changes in neighbourhoods, villages, and towns where real lives are shaped.
Here’s to a day—and a future—powered by the courage, vision, and unstoppable energy of youth.
At YALDA, we are committed to ensuring that this leadership is nurtured, amplified, and connected. Through training, mentorship, and cross-border networks, we equip African youth with the tools to design impactful projects and the platforms to share them with the world.
We call on governments, development partners, and the private sector to invest boldly in Africa’s young innovators. Africa’s greatness is already blossoming—it is local, it is innovative, and it is youth-led. Today is not just a celebration; it is a reminder that the solutions to our greatest challenges are already in the hands of our young people.