World Youth Skills Day
- April Dykes
- 4 時間前
- 読了時間: 10分
“Children are our future.” This is a statement that I’m sure everyone has said or has heard said at least once. Children not only represent a hope for the future, but they are also the very building blocks that that future rests upon. It can be seen in the importance that every government places on education. Education isn’t limited to a classroom; it’s the lessons we’re taught by our families, communities, through after-school activities, and by life itself.
Each lesson molds and shapes an adult who will either positively or negatively affect the future. In addition to teaching about morality and self-control, it is imperative that we equip our youth with skills that will not only benefit them but society as a whole.
So, let’s stop and ask ourselves: What does the world need right now? Everyone will have a different answer. Some will say “Peace”, which I will wholeheartedly agree with. Some will say “Stability”. Of those two answers, stability is the easiest to tackle, not that the problem itself is in any way simple. Stability can look like job stability, food stability, housing stability, and more.
Those things can all be achieved with the right skills. When all needs are met, there is less chance of wars, which would, in theory, pave the way for peace. It’s funny how all things are connected. This World Youth Skills Day, we recognize the importance of equipping youth with important skills and the ways we can support them.
Resolution A/RES/69/145
Since its creation, the United Nations has made it a point to support children in various ways. This all began with its predecessor, the League of Nations, in 1924. In 1924, the League of Nations passed the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child. This declaration clearly laid out the rights every child, regardless of nationality, religion, or any other defining trait, should have.
Those rights included:
Article 1
The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, both materially and spiritually.
Article 2
The child that is hungry must be fed; the child that is sick must be nursed; the child that is backward must be helped; the delinquent child must be reclaimed; and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succored.
Article 3
The child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress.
Article 4
The child must be put in a position to earn a livelihood, and must be protected against every form of exploitation.
Article 5
The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be devoted to the service of fellow men
(League of Nations, 1924, Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child)
This was the first time in history that an international body publicly declared that children have rights that must be protected and respected. Since 1924, there have been many declarations and resolutions passed that have focused on children’s rights and well-being. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, Resolution 62/126, and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention are a few examples.
Every year, the world faces new advancements and challenges that change the standards for education and the workforce. Recognizing this, the United Nations created World Youth Skills Day on December 18, 2014. “The world of work is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, the green transition and growing social complexity are transforming how we learn, work and participate in society. To thrive in this changing landscape, young people need more than technical skills alone.
They need a balanced set of competencies that combines technical, digital, AI, green, social-emotional and civic skills with the human qualities that technology cannot replace” (United Nations). This year’s theme, Skills for a Shared Future, reflects the hope that the skills learned will be a benefit to the world as a whole.
The importance of World Youth Skills Day
The pandemic impacted a lot of things: interpersonal development, public-facing industries, and student outcomes. “These outcomes can be grouped into two main categories: school engagement and learning. School engagement includes such measures as enrollment, attendance, graduation, and matriculation to postsecondary education. Learning includes numeracy and literacy, typically measured by standardized test scores.
Across all measures, students appear to be worse off than they would have been absent the pandemic, and such negative outcomes are generally more severe for the low-income and racially and ethnically minoritized communities that are the focus of this report” (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2023). With lower graduation rates, industries are left with either unfilled positions or underqualified staff to fill those positions.
While youth employment has always been a trend that has required the government’s attention, the pandemic caused noticeable changes to the percentage of NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) among youth. “The ILO estimates that in 2025 around 262 million – or one in four - young people aged between 15 and 24 - are neither employed nor studying: they are, in other words, NEET…” (O’Higgins, 2025, ILO).
These estimates show just how important it is to tackle the issue of youth unemployment. A lack of employment opportunities and staff able to competently take on jobs creates the potential for a bleak-looking future. To tackle that issue, the first thing that needs to be done is to provide opportunities for young people to pursue education while developing skills for future employment. Today, that looks like having a strong digital and technology literacy.
Supporting youth
From after-school programs to extracurricular activities promoted by nonprofits, governments, and community members, there are many opportunities for youth to learn necessary skills. While what's necessary varies from place to place, the UN projects that interpersonal skills, digital literacy, and technology literacy will be necessary for every young adult (United Nations). Below are a few organizations that are focused on youth development and the maintenance of children’s rights while ensuring kids get to be kids.
Mentorship
We are a youth support organization that has been operating as a non-profit since 2004.
In addition to providing direct support to young people, children, and parents, we are also involved in a wide range of activities such as training support workers and advocating for policies.
Sodateage Net recognizes the social isolation of children and young people as a social issue and provides the support that young people and their families need. In addition, in order to establish youth support as a social infrastructure, we are working with local communities, government, and companies to increase the number of people who will provide youth support.
Mission
What we are working on: Connecting young people with society
Young people are also an integral part of our society. To prevent young people from experiencing unwanted isolation, it is crucial not only to support them and connect them with society, but also for society itself to change its perception and build connections with young people instead of abandoning them. We are working towards a society that progresses together with young people.
Vision
The society we aim for: All young people can realize a "work" that suits them and a "lifestyle" that suits them.
Up until now, our activities have aimed to realize the realization of "work" and "continuing to work," but as times change, our ideal has evolved to accept a wider range of values. Now that being employed is no longer a necessity, and the place of work is becoming more flexible, we are expanding the scope of our activities to support young people in realizing "work" and "lifestyles" that suit them.
To alleviate the isolation that each young person does not want and to realize the person they want to be and a life they can be satisfied with, we have renewed our vision (the society we aim for) at this 20-year milestone.
Our Vision
To create a society in which anyone can develop
the power to make their own future, regardless
of their social and economic background.
Our Mission
To provide motivation and creativity for all
Teenagers.
Why We Do, What We Do
In this era where unpredictable transformation is taking place, the motivation and creativity to create one's own future are essential qualities for all young people. Teenagers in Japan tend to have low self-esteem, little self-confidence, and low motivation. Furthermore, Japanese society is seeing a widening "opportunity gap" depending on one's background. Bringing up teenagers with a complicated background is stretching parents and schools to their limits.
No more brushing it aside as their own fault, and no more throwing it on parents and schools.
Katariba aims to create a new paradigm in which we overcome the opportunity gap,
and all teenagers can develop their motivation and creativity.
Educational & Skill Development
Vision
We envision a society where all youth have equal opportunities.
Mission
We are a not-for-profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan, supporting their growth into happy and successful young adults.
Mirai no Mori Core Values
Our mission to create transformative experiences for marginalized children in Japan is rooted in three core values: Empowering, Embracing, and Believing. These principles guide our programs, shape our interactions, and define our path for the future.
In the heart of Tokyo, a transformative initiative is changing the lives of children from institutionalized homes. Founded in 2018, YouMeWe (YMW) is dedicated to empowering, educating and inspiring young individuals, ensuring they transition into adulthood as capable, self-reliant and thriving members of society. As they near the age of 18, YMW stands by their side, ready to support their transition into
university, technical school, or the workforce.
Our Mission
To support teenagers growing up in institutionalized homes to become fully capable and
financially independent young adults as they reach the age of 18 and prepare to leave the home, whether it is off to university, technical school, or to a new job.
YMW’s journey began in Japan, where we recognized the unique challenges faced by 33,000 orphans across 600 orphanages. Despite efforts to create nurturing environments, these children often lack the individualized attention and guidance needed to navigate their futures. YMW stepped in to fill this gap, offering a lifeline of support and opportunity.
Driven by the need to address Japan's demographic challenges – a growing elderly population and a shrinking overall population – our ultimate goal is to empower these young individuals to take on life's challenges and become employable, motivated members of society. Our impact has since expanded beyond Japan, reaching orphanages in the Philippines, Brazil, and Ghana, where we continue to transform lives.
Our Story
It started with a question: What if every child had the chance to lead?
In 2022, that belief took root in Nagareyama—one of Japan’s most forward-thinking cities for families and education. With support from local schools, families, and city officials, we launched the first L.E.A.D. program, combining:
Leadership development
Entrepreneurship
Emotional learning
And Japanese values
Since then, L.E.A.D. has grown in imagination, partnerships, and impact—but our heart remains right here in Nagareyama. We help children discover who they are, take meaningful action, and become proud of their own leadership journey. Because when young people rise, so does the future of Japan.
Our Core Values
The five powers every Heropreneur builds—and brings into the world.
At the heart of Nagareyama L.E.A.D. are five values that guide every lesson, every project, and every student journey. These aren’t just traits we talk about—they are skills we practice, choices we make, and strengths we grow together.
Each value is represented by one of our guiding icons and brought to life through real action, every day.
Creativity
Imagination is a skill, and a starting point. At L.E.A.D., students use design, storytelling, and problem-solving to bring bold ideas to life. Creativity helps them see beyond limits and build what comes next.
Compassion
True leaders listen, care, and act. Through empathy-driven projects, Heropreneurs learn that kindness creates impact. At L.E.A.D., compassion isn’t soft—it’s strong. It’s how students grow into leaders who notice needs and help others rise.
Courage
Courage means trying anyway. Speaking up, taking risks, and learning from failure. At L.E.A.D., students discover that bravery isn’t about being fearless—it’s about showing up and growing, one bold step at a time.
Collaboration
Great ideas grow stronger together. In the Hero Lab, students learn to co-create, compromise, and lead as a team. Collaboration teaches them that real leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about lifting together.
Action
Ideas matter, but action makes them real. At L.E.A.D., students pitch, build, and test solutions to real-world problems. They learn to move from thinking to doing—and discover that their efforts can spark change.
These values aren’t separate—they work together.
Creativity opens the door.
Compassion connects us.
Courage keeps us moving.
Collaboration lifts everyone.
Action brings it all to life.
Together, they form the foundation of every Heropreneur’s journey.
Cultivating Next-Gen Changemakers & Leaders of Japan
Youth For Future is a registered NPO dedicated to cultivating Japan’s next generation of compassionate, responsible, and proactive changemakers through targeted experiential and service-learning engagement.
Youth For Future began in 2021 as a student-led high school project founded on the belief that young people have the power to create meaningful change in their communities. As we grew, we recognized the need to provide more opportunities for children and youth in Japan to develop leadership, confidence, and a sense of purpose through real-world experiences. Today, as a registered nonprofit, we support both children in care homes and students in schools through experiential learning, service learning, and leadership development programs that empower them to become changemakers.
Through our Global Identity Program (GIP), we support children in care homes and local communities through service learning engagement, cultural exchange, and real-world project-based experiences. Rather than only receiving support, children are encouraged to become active contributors to society by exploring social issues, volunteering, creating projects, and reflecting on their own growth. Through this process, they build confidence, empathy, responsibility, and a sense of purpose. Our goal is to help each child recognize that they are not defined by their circumstances, but by their ability to learn, lead, and contribute.
Through our RISE Initiative, we partner with international schools and educational institutions to empower students as young changemakers. Our camps, workshops, and leadership programs help students explore social issues, design their own initiatives, and take meaningful action through service learning and community engagement. By providing students with structure, mentorship, and opportunities for action, we aim to help them become more compassionate, responsible, and proactive leaders.
Whether you support these initiatives by donating or enrolling your children, there are so many things you can do to support children. Something as simple as watching educational programs together, helping them learn a new skill, and doing mental health check-ins can have a profound impact on a child’s development. Childhood comes with lots of new experiences that can seem scary. Being a teenager in this technology-driven age can be anxiety-inducing. The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone and you’re likely doing better than you think you are.
World Youth Skills Day
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Addressing the Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Families. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26809.
IMAGE 1 https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/22/02/negative-effects-remote-learning-childrens-well-being
IMAGE 5 https://www.sodateage.net/
IMAGE 7 https://mirai-no-mori.jp/
IMAGE 8 https://youmewenpo.org/
IMAGE 9 https://nagareyamalead.com/
IMAGE 10 https://www.yfforg.com/