Creative Opportunities for Youth Empowerment in the Global Marketplace
Youth empowerment is the key to sustainable development. Today, there is the largest cohort of young people in the world's history, i.e., 1.8 billion under the age bracket of 25 years. As the cornerstone of a nation's development, it is crucial to engage young policymakers of tomorrow in today's development decisions. Youth empowerment is the phenomenon when young people realize that they have or can create choices in life, are aware of the implications of those choices, make informed decisions freely, act based on those decisions, and accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Empowerment also means having the ability to support enabling conditions under which young people can act on their behalf and their terms, rather than others' direction. These enabling conditions fall into major categories such as an economic and social base, political will, access to knowledge, information and skills, adequate resource allocation and supportive legal and administrative frameworks, a stable environment of equality, peace, democracy, and a positive value system. Generally, the idea of ‘youth’ is considered a transitional period during which a person turns out to be an active and fully responsible member of society. Youth is not a homogenous construct; hence, there is no single agreed definition of whom and what bands youth. The United Nations General Assembly defines the youth of ages between 15 and 24 while the Commonwealth of Nations consider people aged between 15 and 29 years as youth. The term 'youth' 's operational boundary differs from country to country, based on specific socio-cultural, institutional, economic, and political factors and even in youth-based programs and schemes. Practically, it is considered as a transitional stage in life that lies in between childhood and adulthood. In the United States, the youth's perspective receives a contour as "it is the phase of physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth, aged between 15 to 29. He/she actively partake in developing attitudes, skills, knowledge, and competencies for realizing the potential and strength of an optimized level for the self-development, family, communities, and the country. The Planning Commission of Pakistan defines youth as "a period during which a person is being prepared and prepares to be an active and fully responsible member of the society."
5.1 Positive youth development as a pathway to economic empowerment
The global economic landscape, along with the nature of work, is rapidly changing. More and more people are working outside of a typical office environment and in the gig economy. A workforce such as this is creating new economic opportunities — and challenges. The abilities and aspirations of young people, who now number almost two billion, are often unrealized, especially in the developing world. What is the best way to secure their futures?
We believe that positive youth development interventions can support and empower youth to be more engaged, healthy, and productive community members. Giving young people the chance to improve their lot in life — whether in person or online — is necessary to build critical skills and competencies to meet the demands of a growing and evolving economy. Our research shows that positive youth development interventions can facilitate resilience and, when combined with labor market analysis, prepare young people for future employment.
The U.S.A.I.D. Career Center project in Morocco offers an example of how the positive youth development approach can promote economic empowerment. The project provides safe spaces to connect young people to real and virtual platforms to build skills and minimize vulnerability. Six career centers assist university and vocational training students in developing critical skills like problem-solving, negotiation, and resilience to transition from education to employment successfully. Youth ambassadors and career counselors provide peer-to-peer mentorship and positive role models
Positive youth development programs provide young people with the skills needed to adapt to future economic trends. For instance, Mozambique Program Para O Futuro, a multifaceted program, included a project-based integrated curriculum. In addition, internships and support from e-mentors helped older orphans and vulnerable youth develop foundational cognitive and life skills to learn how to navigate the world of work and their personal lives. The e-mentor capability provided program participants with the ability to connect online with volunteer professionals to learn firsthand how to behave and communicate in and out of the workplace. These interactions also provided participants with access to professional networks to refine their skills and learn about employment opportunities. Nearly 80 percent of the program's graduates are now studying, working, or both.
To meet rapidly shifting market demands, raise incomes and grow revenues to thrive in today and tomorrow's dynamic economy, young people must be well-prepared with information, skills, and mindsets so that they can take advantage of the changing world of work. Positive youth development programs can unleash the economic participation of young people and their families and communities.
to help them become productive
members of society.