International Youth Day Message: "It is now time to prove that we are worthy caretakers of this beautiful planet"

This International Youth Day Message is by Ms. Brianna Fruean, the SPREP Youth Ambassador. "Youth; young people seen as a group in society, who are going through the period between childhood and adulthood, the period where you would do your most growing, the period where you would go through the most change and the period where you are at your boldest, bravest, most imaginative and innovative.

I think in this definition of youth also lies the explanation to why youth play a vital role in protecting and conserving our environment

Our planet has fed us, given us a habitat and provided for our every need but yet we have not treated it the way it has treated us. I guess sometimes we forget Mother Nature doesn't need us the way we need her.

It is now time to prove that we are worthy caretakers of this beautiful planet and I think our youth have the force to lead this change. We as youth may not hold all the power or money in the world but we have something more valuable in my opinion and that is Passion.

Youth all around the world have started environmental groups, led grassroots initiatives, set up petitions, established solar panels to provide power, invented energy sufficient home appliances and they have also painted towns with awareness posters.

Even today the exciting hash tag #YouthPower will be following youth from all around the world campaigning for youth voice to be heard and displaying youth from every corner of the planet willing to stand up for change. All around the world, the youth of today are proving themselves by using their Passion and commitment towards saving our environment.


At the beginning of the year I heard a quote I find very fitting for International Youth Day.

During Prefect selection week at my school an ex-student spoke up to remind us of leadership qualities and used the words - "you don't need a badge to be a Leader". This wasn't just fitting for those of us who didn't and will not make Prefect but for those of us who don't see ourselves capable of being Leaders and leading change.

I think this is such a powerful quote that more youth need to hear in order to believe that they do have the ability to protect our environment and be the change our world needs. As a young person with no title, throne or name imprinted on any wall, I always think about what that girl said at the beginning of the year.

We may feel like just one young person in this huge world trying to protect this huge environment but together with every other young person in this world we make the largest population of young people in history.

We may not have badges but like I said in my definition of youth we are at our boldest, bravest, most imaginative and innovative time and this will make us great leaders of environmental change.