Youth Skills and Innovation Initiative

Due to rapid changes in technology, automation, and the workplace itself – as well as the disconnect between the skills young people are prepared with and those needed to succeed in the 21st century – half of all young people, more than 800 million total, will not have the basic skills necessary for the workforce by 2030. Without an adequate pool of employees equipped with diverse skills needed to adapt to changing realities, many in the business community will find it difficult to compete in a connected and collaborative economy

The Global Business Coalition for Education launched the Youth Skills and Innovation Initiative to tackle these challenges by harnessing the innovation and creativity of youth and industry leaders to create, propagate, accelerate, and disseminate successful models at scale to prepare the next generation of creators, makers, innovators, and designers to thrive.

The recent ECOSOC Youth Forum, focused on how to leverage science, technology and culture for today’s youth, gathered a number of young creative leaders from around the world. In connection with the event, UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi, Mashable’s Chief Marketing Officer Stacy Martinet and Founder of boo-box Marco Gomes, shared their thoughts on how to empower youth to be future innovators.

“Everyone has a share in making the world a better place,” said the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi, as he spoke with DESA in connection with ECOSOC’s Youth Forum held on 27 March. Mr. Alhendawi also described the close connection between young people

and science, technology and social media, saying “young people are not just the consumers of these applications, they are the innovators and they are the people that are paving the way for more innovations to come”.

When talking about some of the measures young people can take to change the world, Mr. Alhendawi pointed to the possibilities of new technologies, enabling us to connect. He also underscored the importance of moving from virtual to real. “I think young people hold the potential to do that, and they should really believe in themselves and believe that it is not about changing everything 

always. It is about starting something new, small ventures, a new enterprise,” he said.

“The opportunities are endless,” said Mashable’s Chief Marketing Officer Stacy Martinet, sharing her advice for today’s youth and describing the prospects brought on by the age of digital media and the rapid pace of innovations in technology. “They should take their ideas and creativity and start working on things that are important,” she said, also underscoring the power of social media as a way to connect, collaborate and to help transform societies.

“To use science and technology to change the world, the most important thing is prepare yourself, educate yourself,” said Marco Gomes, Founder of boo-box, emphasizing the need to be very well prepared before starting on such an endeavor. “Pay attention to what’s around you. Your community, your city, your country – they are full of opportunities,” Mr. Gomes said, adding encouragingly, “the world needs true innovation that improves people’s lives.”

Highlighting the role of the United Nations, Ms. Martinet said, “places like the UN and national and local governments are really also empowered to support young people who want to get involved (…) I think this is an exciting moment to do more for young people.” This is something which was also echoed by the UN’s newly appointed Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi. “I am very much optimistic that in my office and with my mandate, I will be able to use and leverage all different tools that we have to reach out to young people and make them closer to the United Nations,” Mr. Alhendawi said.