Citizen Dialogue

MDGs seem to be one the latest buzzwords – along with climate change and many others – but it is so for a reason.

Increasing partnerships for development, ensuring that any child attend school, and eradicating the worst forms of poverty do look quite daunting tasks for any government, let alone individuals. Despite this though, new social endeavours and projects are taking shape in each corner of the world, managed by one of the most untapped resource ever: young people.

Not surprisingly, young people worldwide – who account for over half of the world’s population – are taking the MDGs seriously enough to start doing something themselves, without further waiting for external help from historical actors such as the government or other well-know NGOs and institutions. They tackle the issues affecting their communities and the world at large, trying to bring about a meaningful and long-lasting change, a change for good.

Young people worldwide are taking stand on most issues under than sun, and unlike past generations, their impact is real, concrete and measurable. As such, there are young people who successfully lobbied to have a regional youth policy drafted and implemented in Pakistan, young people who fight for the economic and social rights of marginalised Ogoni people in Nigeria, and people spreading the word about HIV/AIDS in villages in rural Africa. Of course, these are but few examples; many more are the untold story of young people actively engaged in making MDGs a reality in their own communities.

Confronting the status quo and the adults is by no means an easy task for anyone, let alone young people. However, most of us have already realised that MDGs can actually be achieved if each and any person gets involved personally. What matters the most, is having a small impact locally, and work toward it to the best of one’s ability.

It goes without saying that the path to change – and achieving the MDGs – is a long one, albeit difficult and uncertain, but definitely one worth taking. Young people worldwide are already working to achieve it…will YOU join us too?

Selene Biffi
Youth Action for Change
Founder