Squad goals
M illennials get a bad rap these days. We’re coined as lazy and cynical, and often, our problems and concerns are dismissed with a condescending remark about being overly sensitive and idealistic. But who said we should be excluded from decisions that could help change society?
Last Aug. 10-12, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted the 4th Annual Youth Forum at the ADB Headquarters in Mandaluyong City. It was three days of different cultures coming together under one building sharing, talking, telling stories and inspiring each other. The three-day forum led up to the celebration of the 2016 UN International Youth Day on Aug. 12. With the theme “Youth for Global Goals,” the 4th Asian Youth Forum focused on getting the youth to contribute to the United Nations’ new 2030 global agenda — Sustainable Development Goals. The energy of more than 200 delegates opened the forum with a dance number set to One Direction’s
Best Song Ever, but also made sure the discussion on empowering the youth was just as engaging. It was refreshing to see so many diverse characters and faces talking about the kind of world they want to share with each other — and what kind of Pokemon they wanted to catch while in the hallways of ADB HQ.
The youth is perceived as reckless when it comes to decision-making but everyone in the 4th Annual Youth Forum understands that it’s important we are included in the conversation as well.
Niels Caszo, global president of AISEC International, believes that the solution is to develop responsible and entrepreneuring young leaders today. He said, “We asked them (the millennials), ‘What would you do if you could get paid to do anything?’ The top four answers were: travel, help, teach and build. Does that sound familiar?”
The kids aren’t ignorant, and they’re here to help get things done. Yoriko Yasukawa, Asia-Pacific regional director of UNFPA, believes in the youth’s more inclusive nature toward sensitive subjects such as race, gender, STDs and sexuality. She said, “We need to reach out to people who are different. It’s the most difficult thing. But young people, I have faith that they have the imagination and courage to do that.”