Youth-Led Initiatives Drive Peace and Change Globally

Children play with locally made educational toys in Yemen.

Colourful stacking blocks or perhaps an abacus for counting – these are the sorts of tactile objects one might expect to see in a kindergarten classroom.

But after a decade of armed conflict and amidst a severe economic depression, educational toy imports have become far too expensive for many classrooms in Yemen.

Shadia and Fatima, two young entrepreneurs in Yemen, identified this gap after participating in a training course run by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). They decided to launch a youth-led business called Dorri, which creates sensory learning tools from locally sourced wood and fabric.

Alone, Dorri will not bring peace to Yemen, nor will it single-handedly solve the fact that over a third of youth in Yemen are unemployed. But, according to one principal whose kindergarten received the toys, it represents the creative potential of Yemen’s youth.

“When young people take the lead, everyone gains — children, families, schools, and entire communities,” the principal said.

August 12 is the International Day of Youth, highlighting the integral role that 1.9 billion young people worldwide play in creating sustainable futures.

This year, the day is particularly significant, according to Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, because it coincides with other notable dates, including the 10th anniversary of a Security Council resolution affirming the vital role of youth in advancing peace.

“Young people are leading change with purpose, from local campaigns to global peace efforts, building trust between cultures and creating lasting impact,” Mr Paullier said.

By 2050, people currently under 25 will comprise over 90 per cent of the global workforce, making their training and education vital to economic growth and lasting peace.

However, in contexts plagued by conflict or in communities facing displacement, such opportunities can be nearly impossible to access.

Elijah, a Sudanese refugee now aged 27, arrived at a refugee camp in Kenya in 2015 after fleeing violence in his home country. While he tried to attend school for a few years, he ultimately dropped out because he could not afford the fees.

But training was within reach: in his informal electronics repair facility, he has already trained 15 young people like himself.

“My dream is to open the biggest electronics repair facility in Kakuma that will serve the community and also empower young people without a source of livelihood to take care of themselves,” Elijah said.

Mr Paullier stressed that empowering youth at a local level must go beyond supporting initiatives like Elijah’s — genuine empowerment lies in “real trust.”

“Meaningful youth participation means engaging youth as equal partners. It means intergenerational collaboration because investing in youth is not just about the future; it is about the world we live in today,” he said.

In Myanmar, this kind of intergenerational knowledge exchange has taken the form of theatre. Ongoing conflict there has upended livelihoods and created conditions ripe for gender-based violence.

A group of 18 young people in Mon State formed a performance troupe that also serves as an educational initiative. They write, direct, and stage plays for communities of all ages, tackling themes such as domestic abuse.

At one performance about ongoing domestic violence, an elderly woman in the front row turned to her neighbour and said: “This is my story too.”

Through these performances, the young people have created a forum for intergenerational conversation.

“We’re not just performers — we are community educators, and this stage is our platform for change,” said La Min Cho, one of the performers.

Despite the Security Council’s resolution, young people remain largely excluded from policymaking. And when included, their participation can sometimes be tokenistic.

Areej Hussein, founder of a grassroots feminist organisation in Sudan, has experienced the frustration of having her advocacy reduced to a political symbol.

“Women and girls are not just victims of war – we are peacebuilders… Enough of using women as slogans. It is time to truly listen to their leadership,” she said.

Ms Hussein has mobilised women from all walks of life to tell their stories. She is not alone — young people around the world are working for change, each with a different approach.

For Shadia and Fatima, it was tactile toys. Elijah inspires refugees. And for Yie Tone, the answer was theatre.

“We may not have the power to change policies, but we do have the power on this stage to change our communities to a safe and equal society,” Mr Tone said.