By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
As the world commemorates International Youth Day 2026, child rights organization Send Sierra Leone has challenged young people to move beyond waiting for change and take an active role in creating solutions for the future.
Under this year’s global theme, “The world is changing. What are you doing to change it?”, Send Sierra Leone said the focus should not only be on recognizing the potential of young people but also on encouraging them to take meaningful action.
In a statement issued on International Youth Day, the organization highlighted its work across Sierra Leone, where it has partnered with thousands of young women and men through programmes focused on education, leadership development, livelihoods, and enterprise support.
“That experience has taught us one powerful truth: young people are not simply beneficiaries of development; they are builders of the future,” Send Sierra Leone stated.
The organization noted that the rapid pace of global transformation provides the context for its message. It pointed to developments such as artificial intelligence reshaping employment opportunities, climate change affecting communities, and emerging digital economies transforming traditional industries.
Send Sierra Leone emphasized that success in this changing environment will depend on the ability of young people to learn, adapt, innovate, and act.
“In such a world, your greatest advantage is not simply being young; it is your ability to learn, adapt, create, and act,” the organization said.
Rather than focusing only on challenges beyond their control, Send Sierra Leone encouraged young people to concentrate on areas where they can make a difference, including acquiring relevant skills, developing discipline, embracing technology, and identifying solutions to community challenges.
The organization urged young people to learn. Read. Build skills. Embrace technology. Create businesses. Solve problems. Protect your integrity.
A significant part of the message focused on empowering young women. Send Sierra Leone stressed that age, culture, or tradition should never prevent young women from participating in leadership and decision-making processes.
“Young women: you are not too young to lead. You belong everywhere, where decisions are made. No culture or tradition should diminish your dignity, silence your voice, or limit your potential,” the organization stated.
Reflecting on the responsibilities of each generation, Send Sierra Leone reminded young people that every generation inherits challenges that require commitment and innovation to address.
The organization encouraged youth to reflect on four important questions: What am I learning? What am I building? What problem am I solving? Whose life am I improving?
Send Sierra Leone concluded that the future will not be shaped by those who simply observe changes taking place, but by those willing to take courageous steps to influence and transform society.