2025 Global Youth Workers Conference: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future
The 2025 Global Youth Workers Conference has been held in Accra, Ghana, bringing together youth workers from across the globe to discuss the importance of empowering young people and the role of youth workers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. David Ochan, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, emphasized the significance of the conference theme, “Youth for Global Goals, Established, Equipped, and Engaged.” “The theme reflects the urgent need to empower young people and involve them in decision-making processes,” he said. “We need to move away from just consulting young people and instead involve them in actual decision-making, ensuring they are established, equipped, and engaged in shaping their own futures.”
Dr. Ochan also highlighted the importance of creating transformational partnerships that are long-term, future-oriented, equitable, trust-based, and empowering local actors. “We need to go beyond business as usual and create partnerships that will enable young people to realize their full potential,” he added.
Mr. Peter Anum, Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Association Coordinator, emphasized the need to professionalize youth work. “Most of us here are youth workers, but when we meet, we tend to focus more on the beneficiary, the young people, and we forget to talk about ourselves as professionals,” he said. “It’s time for us to think about ourselves as youth workers and create an enabling environment for us to thrive.”
Mr. Anum also highlighted the importance of capacity building and certification programs for youth workers. “What are the benchmarks? What are the standards? How do we create that enabling environment for the youth worker to strive in this country?” he asked.
Moses Baffour Awuah, Global CEO of Youth Arise Organisation, emphasized the need for programs that focus on youth workers. “We have a lot of programs to help young people, but we do not have a lot of programs that focus on youth workers,” he said. “It’s time that we have programs and conferences like this that focus on youth workers to build them, to empower them, and to equip them with the necessary tools and skills.”
The conference provided a platform for youth workers to share their experiences, challenges, and best practices in working with young people. It also highlighted the importance of youth workers in achieving the SDGs and promoting sustainable development.
