Those of us who are parents know that the sun and moon rise around our children. To those of us who are in development, we know that young people have the strength to move the sun and the moon… and sometimes more.
![Youth Painting_USAID Young boy stenciling the USAID logo on a wall.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224114307im_/http://blog.usaid.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Youth-Painting_USAID-240x135.jpg)
The new USAID Policy on Youth in Development empowers and engages youth to become more active participants in global development. Photo: David Medina, Alianza Joven Honduras
USAID recently launched the Agency’s first Policy on Youth in Development to make young people a driving force in our development. I am excited about this, because it creates a specific place for youth as partners and leaders in global development—and this, in turn, can help us achieve sustainable results for their families, communities and countries.
Young people must be front and center in development throughout the world. They are critical to alleviating poverty with economic growth, fighting disease and defending human rights. They are also an essential part of promoting peaceful democracy, protecting the planet and fostering innovation. Think back to the Arab Spring and more often than not, it was the determination of youth that inspired us.
I saw this first hand as Mission Director in Colombia, where engaging and preparing young people was a central tenet of our approach to citizen security. Whether it was retraining youth after demobilizing them from an illegally armed group or supporting the internally displaced, youth were critical to achieving larger development objectives.
The new Youth in Development Policy strengthens our commitment to elevate the voices and power of young people in all aspects of our work. They will be a central component in all development planning.
I recall Secretary Clinton’s recent words, “With more than half the global population under the age of 30 years and with the vast majority residing in developing countries, young people are at the heart of today’s great strategic opportunities and challenges.”
I am heartened by USAID’s new Youth Policy because it takes these sentiments one step further and makes young people a driving force in our development throughout the world.
Youth in Development joins a series of policies on important issues such as gender equality, climate change, and violent extremism that USAID has recently created to direct us and our missions’ focus in the strategic planning process.
Momentous, Susan and all! Congrats. A suggestion: add some funds to this announcement; some, not tons. Not all missions have/can justify youth-centered projects but my hunch is that some would delighted to add a youth component or dimension to planned or existing projects. How…? Youth champions in DC would have an excuse to visit missions–and would have $omething tangible to offer. A small investment here would leverage attention and action in the field, and possibly some mission funding. My.02. P
This is a great job for USAID. In our country, there are lots of youth who are potential to become a youth leader with good moral and someday become a political or business or spiritual leaders. However, in todays situation where evil is rampant globally, most Filipino youth had their own mind for themselves and for their family, some had the idea of helping others or the nation’s welfare for the better future but they are only few and it is not enough to fight for, due to its minority. Filipino values for humanity had already been forgotten, like what our heros did by giving their lives for freedon and democracy. Most Filipino were greed for power and authority like the dynasty in the government and it has being pass it on to their children and their children’s children. This are the things that should be focus on and make a hard push of exercise thru trainings and practises to the youth to gain better life in the future and make our nation great in the eyes of the Almighty God and men.
I think it’s a moral duty of all and sundry to render all-out help and assistance to consummate the developments of the youth community.
Thank you USAID for this fantastic project. The youths of the world are the futur leaders. The young people of Haiti,in particular, are in dire need of educational, social, and economic opportunities.
USAID says youth have the strength to move the sun & moon… I say mothers have the strength to move the heaven & earth Watch me!~Vicki~ Mother to the Future Leaders of Haiti futureleadersofhaiti.blogspot.com
Moldovan youth is ready to support this policy and be part of the actions.
Right, youth must be motivated to make the changes we need for a better life!
This policy document is timely and approiate for commencing innovative and substantive approaches to capture and utilizing the knowledge base and power to fosters systemic change throughout the world through by our youth. They are our future worldwide.
Raymond T. Terry, Se.,Ph.D
Owner and Principle consultant
International Management and Capacity Building, LLC.