Green economies. A deep conversation about International Youth Day

 Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society.

The theme for International Youth Day 2023 is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World". This theme highlights the importance of providing young people with the skills they need to contribute to a sustainable future.

Interviews

Hello, Happy International Youth Day!

Hello, I am joana, I am 22 years old, and today we are going to talk about green business.

Good afternoon Joana!

Good afternoon.

Are you involved in green business?

Yes, my mom and I sell plants.

Please tell us a little about this type of business. How do you sell the plants, who do you sell them to and how much does it cost?

Well, a good part of the people who are attracted by our plants are Chinese businessmen and emigrants. When they visit us, they ask for the plant they like the most and we give them the price. We sell each plant for 2000 to 3000 kwanzas, if the customer asks for a discount then we negotiate and lower the price to 2000 kz for a plant valued at 3000 kz.

We wash and water the plant, decorate it, and package it, then sell all of them pretty to customers. And customers always come back because they are always well attended.

Do you also sell plants in neighborhoods from door to door?

Yes, we also sell plants in the neighborhoods door to door. Our neighbors always knock on our door to buy plants. When they look for a specific plant, they say the names and my mother will see in the yard if we have that plant for sale, when we have we give the price of 3000 kz and if it is expensive for the customer we discount it up to 2000 kz.

Is this business profitable and sustainable?

Yes, this plant business is very profitable and sustainable. It has a lot of profit.

What advice would you give to young people who don't like to sell?

Young people, I am young and I sell plants, but you are also young like me. Follow my example, if I sell plants to survive in this challenging world that is about to end, you can also sell.

Don't just stand there with vanity waiting for your dream job to fall from the skies. Allow me to give you some advice: Life is very difficult, do not sit idly by doing nothing.

Be like me, and go sell plants. It is a green business, very beautiful and profitable, your house will be very beautiful decorated with plants.

OK thank you.

Bye, kisses!

International Youth Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people around the world. It is also a day to celebrate the contributions of young people to society.  It is a day to celebrate the potential of young people and to commit to creating a better future for all. 

International Youth Day 2023 History

The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by the young people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System. The Forum recommended that an International Youth Day be declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes, to support the United Nations Youth Fund in partnership with youth organizations.

In 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as International Youth Day was adopted by the first session of the the  World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth , which was hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998). That recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly, in its resolution  A/RES/54/120 entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth" (17 December 1999).

The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth , adopted by the General Assembly in 1996.

Security Council Resolution 2250 (9 December 2015 ) on Youth, Peace and Security represents an unprecedented acknowledgement of the urgent need to engage young peacebuilders in promoting peace and countering extremism, and clearly positions youth as important partners in the global efforts.​