IAF: Unleashing Youth Power!

(International Youth Day Special)

By Rananjay Anand

On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of the Ministers, responsible for Youth, (Lisbon, 8-12 August, 1998), that 12 August be declared International Youth Day (IYD).

Exactly before two years from now, in August 2009, a group was created on a Social Networking Site Facebook, with a humble name "India-Armenia Friendship" with an intention to gather like-minded people and have a proper interaction between its people to bridge the gap created in the course of history. 

Two years have passed since then. You all have been there. You loved it, you celebrated it, you enjoyed it, you fought for it, you struggled for it, you made new friends, and you showed your anger and complaints too, i.e in a nutshell, a wholesome amalgamation of two different cultures with all colors of emotions and feelings. You have witnessed IAF's great journey so far, by being the part of this Caravan.

Now exactly after two years, I'm proud to announce IAF in its Physical Avatar. A real transformation from Facebook based virtual group to a legally existing NGO in Armenia. My dear friends, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you all by announcing that your virtual IAF has been legally registered as "Indo-Armenian Friendship" NGO in Armenia. From now onward August 12 will be celebrated by us as "IAF Founding Day" every year. This is the real transformation of Youth Power.

The International Youth Day (IYD) is something special this year. "Change Our World" has been chosen as the theme for IYD 2011 as it not only expresses the level of impact that young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a Global Citizenship. IAF envisages the same Global Perspective of having a Global Platform for Youth from every corner of the world, to come together and change the world. This inspired us to form "Society For Promotion Of Global Understanding"  aka (SPGU), based in India, armed with its country specific chapters through collaborations and creations around Globe. And IAF being the first country specific arm of SPGU, is exactly the "Torch-Bearer" of this theme excellently.

The world is facing myriad of problems: Poverty, Hunger, Unemployment, Natural Calamities, Global Warming, Clash of different cultures, sects & religions, and the list goes endless..Who will be facing this?? Can we afford to sit idle?? As young people we must realize that we are the ones who will be affected tomorrow by today's decision. Do we need to approach Problem to Solution or is it Solution to Problem approach  for all solution?? To my mind we must strive for the later case. 

It is our latent and creative ideas or voices, that will shape the future; We are Young, active and full of energy, we embrace challenges and are open to new and different experiences. With our intense desire for positive change, we have the ability to move beyond the geography and time restrictions and are undoubtedly the dynamic group of people that are the primary enablers of the Social Change. We need to unleash the untapped potential.

We hereby request to all those who can be our stakeholders to realize the theme this year and work together to ensure that policies and processes are in place to provide continuous investments in youth, to encourage youth mind to participate and take the challenge head-on and to improve the Intercultural Understanding among youth. IAF would like to continue with the spirit of IYD forever.

We, the Youth need support and encouragement from all around; be it Government, Corporate Houses, Private sector businesses, National and International Foundations, Philanthropists, Civil Society Organizations or other Stakeholders, we want to see them to work with us for a sustainable future. Youth need to be included at all levels of Decision-making to ensure that their need are met. This will provide the solution.

Let's dream a world, World of Togetherness. Come, join and be the force to reckon with.

To See The Change, Be The Change!