Washington D.C., 12 August 2025 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) joins the global community in celebrating International Youth Day (IYD) 2025, under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.” This year’s theme recognizes the essential role of young people in driving community-based solutions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future.
Young people are not only beneficiaries of development; they are agents of change, bringing innovation, leadership, and local knowledge to the most pressing challenges. By engaging in local governance and translating global goals into action at the community level, youth can accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs and improving health outcomes.
In the Region of the Americas, PAHO continues to work closely with the PAHO Youth for Health Group and youth-led organizations and networks to strengthen health systems, encompassing various approaches to ensure that youths’ voices are not only heard but also acted upon. Initiatives such as the Youth Voices Contest, most recently held in 2024, have provided a platform for adolescents and young people from across the Region to share their experiences, opinions, and solutions for improving comprehensive health services. These insights are essential to building people-centered health systems that respond to their needs.
“The creativity and leadership of youth are critical to advancing the SDGs at the local level,” said Dr. Sonja Caffe, Regional Advisor on Adolescent Health. “Through initiatives like Youth Voices and our ongoing partnerships with youth organizations, PAHO is committed to ensuring that young people help shape the future of health and development in the Americas.”
The official global commemoration, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and UN-Habitat, takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, and features dialogues between youth leaders and decision-makers, a youth innovation showcase, and storytelling initiatives to amplify youth voices worldwide.
PAHO encourages governments, civil society, and all sectors to invest in youth capacity-building and support youth-led initiatives. Strengthening youth participation in local decision-making processes is key to achieving universal health and sustainable development.
Learn more about International Youth Day 2025 and access resources here.
