The International Year of Youth: Our Year. Our Voice.

On August 12th 2010, the United Nations launched the International Year of Youth (IYY) under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. 
The IYY is an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world's youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, from enhancing peace to boosting economic development. "Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making at local, national and global levels", said UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
The UN Program on Youth launched the logo and official slogan for the IYY, which is Our Year. Our Voice. 
The UN system's approach for the Year focuses on three key areas:
· Create awareness about youth issues and increase commitment and investment in youth.
· Mobilize and engage youth and increase youth participation and partnerships
· Connect and build bridges and increase intercultural understanding among youth
The progress achieved during the IYY in each of these areas will lay the foundation for further work in youth development, including the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. 

The UN have received countless e-mails informing them of the different initiatives and activities that young people and youth supporters are planning as part of this celebration. Thus far, there are at least 155 events planned and registered already at the official site for the IYY. If you would like to find a specific event, register one of your own, or just get more information, please go here and here. On the IYY Facebook page they are asking young people from all across the world about their experience on a variety of other topics affecting them.

The IYY is the 25th anniversary of the first Year of Youth in 1985 and the best chance to see what young people can achieve when encouraged and empowered. 
One of the most relevant events for the celebration has been the World Youth Conference in Mexico 2010 . 
We can change the world through the ideals of peace, freedom, progress and solidarity!