HALF of the world’s population is under 30, and these youth comprise the most well-informed and connected generation. Entering adulthood is never easy. For youth in Malaysia, the challenges are daunting.
But global youth also face unemployment, limited resources for education and training, and the world faces threats to global peace, security and stability.
To overcome these challenges, leaders must better understand, engage and empower youth as partners and future leaders in global development efforts.
By creating programmes and introducing youth to initiatives, it would offer an opportunity for them to engage in society and reboot the pathways of civic participation, while helping them find new ways to channel their energies and ideas.
Making youth an agent of change requires their participation in society. Therefore, we need to highlight and encourage youth to engage in society and that they have a role to play.
From being aware of developments in the country to taking an interest in solving social issues, to a more active involvement in the nation’s agenda, youth civic engagement implies options and possibilities that can be tailor-made to match individual needs, circumstances and aspirations.
The idea of the National Youth Convention, an initiative by Yayasan Briged Jingga, aims to address issues and create engagement between youth, leaders, decision-makers and influencers.
The idea is a first attempt at an umbrella framework to guide young people, and reaffirms the message that youth are “an essential asset worth investing in”.
Within the strategy, the role of youth is included in the nation sustainability agenda via four pillars: entrepreneurship, employment, sports, and arts and culture.
The strategy aims to provide a blueprint for joint initiatives and implementation of practices.
Youth must acquire a role in the global decision-making process.
Yayasan Briged Jingga has set an ambitious goal, and it is up to us to work to make this vision a reality.
Yayasan Briged Jingga is a non-profitable foundation set up to cater to youth in the red zone.
The foundation seeks to support the development and programmes for youth to engage and empower young people on
issues, besides giving them the opportunity to share best practices, networking and learning through people-to-people exchanges.
KHAIRUL ANNUAR YUSOF
Principal CEO, Yayasan Briged Jingga