Dili, August 10, 2023 – Although the youth (below 30 years) make up half the world’s population, with the figure expected to reach 57 percent by the end of 2030, they will suffer the impacts of climate change for longer than any other population group.
In Timor-Leste, where 65 percent of the population is below 30 years, empowering the youth with green skills (knowledge, abilities and expertise required for sustainability and environmental conservation), will promote effective response to climate crisis and sustainable development not only in the country but globally.
In celebrating the International Youth Day 2023 in Timor-Leste, marked globally on August 12, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MoYSAC) in collaboration with UNFPA organized national events in Covalima municipality and in Dili to recognise youth leaders, acknowledge their contributions and amplify their importance in sustainable development in line with this year’s theme: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.
H.E. Nélio Isaac Sarmento, Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MoYSAC) in Timor-Leste encouraged young people to promote peace and sustainable development in his message to mark International Youth Day in Timor-Leste.
“To commemorate international youth day, I would like to take this opportunity to share with youth in the world and particularly in Timor-Leste, that given the complexities the world faces, young people including millennials should be the drivers for promoting peace and sustainable development that is inclusive and without discrimination,” said H.E. Nélio Isaac Sarmento.
This year’s International Youth Day theme is a call to all stakeholders to invest in the youth and “green skills” for the future -- as occupations related to management of the environment, generation of alternative sources of energy and conservation of natural resources are projected to increase by over 50 percent between 2020 to 2030.
As a build-up to the national celebrations, a series of activities were held on August 10 in Dili; a march to advocate for “green skills” for youth, friendly football match, blood donation and music concert.
In her opening remarks during the friendly football match event, Pressia Arifin-Cabo, UNFPA Country Representative in Timor-Leste, reiterated the need to invest in green skills for youth for a sustainable future.
“One of the ways the youth can be productive in Timor-Leste is to ensure they have green skills – which is a term used to describe abilities, knowledge and expertise required for sustainability and environmental conservation.
“We need to see how skills of today can contribute to a prosperous future for our youth by investing in quality education, increasing the rate of secondary school enrolment and linking green skills from primary, secondary to tertiary education to ensure positive development,” said Pressia Arifin-Cabo.
UNFPA works with youth centers to build life skills for the youth to promote mental health, offer psychosocial support and empower youth to be change-makers to influence decisions that protect their rights and promote climate justice.
This year’s International Youth Day 2023 celebrations in Timor-Leste will include; academic quizzes, public speaking competition on green skills, sporting events, national workshop to be held in Covalima municipality and roll-out of out-of-school comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) training among other activities.
UNFPA continues to work closely with MoYSAC, youth networks and associations to empower youth and young leaders, and support youth-led initiatives and Government's efforts to support young people in Timor-Leste.
For more information, contact:
Suleiman Okoth
Communications and Programme Support Specialist
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Timor-Leste
Mobile: +670 75169796
Email; okoth@unfpa.org
