Monday August 12, is International Youth Day recognised by the UN General Assembly and serves as an annual celebration of the role of young people as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth.
This year’s theme is “transforming education” and it highlights efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth, including efforts by youth themselves. Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, International Youth Day 2019 will examine how governments, young people, youth-led and youth-focused organisations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education so that it becomes a powerful tool to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As one of our commitments to ensure that all children can access quality education and help them to acquire appropriate skills and work ethic to succeed in life, SOS Children’s Villages (SOSCV) is currently running an advocacy campaign called ‘#YesChild – we need support in education’. The YesChild campaign, working together with stakeholders, is meant to better inform young people from grade 8-11 about subject choices and career paths, helping them to choose the correct subjects for the careers they wish to pursue based on their interests and capabilities, in order to prepare them to be employable so that they can live an independent life and become contributing members of society.
‘YesChild’ originated from SOSCV’ global emphasis on the importance of child participation and independent living.
SOSCV wants to strengthen children’s voices, to ensure their full involvement in matters that affect them, rather than having them as recipients when decisions are already made.
SOS stands with the global community in commemorating this 2019 International Youth Day.
About SOS Children’s Villages South Africa
SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s most marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS has eight Children’s Villages and three Social Centres across eight provinces.
Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.
The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).
Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.
Issued by:
SOS Children’s Villages South Africa
