The Philippines, of which 30 percent of its population are under 15 and the median age is 26, should take advantage of its young population to effect change and end poverty, said Titon Mitra, the country director of the United Nations Development Programme.
Speaking during the Global Youth Summit in Mall of Asia Arena attended by almost 20,000 young people from different parts of the country and abroad last weekend, Mitra said the Philippines should take advantage of its young population to end poverty and the effects of climate change.
The Global Youth Summit 2018 is the largest gathering of youth leaders for SDGs with almost 20,000 youth at the MOA Arena. Global Peace Foundation and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, organized the annual event.
Mitra said there were 1.4 billion people 10 to 24 years old in the world and 87 percent of the young people were in developing countries.
He said 700 million were in Asia-Pacific region and the Philippines had the third youngest people in the region.
“That’s a lot of young people that can make the difference and I know most of you want to make a difference,” he said.
He pointed out that the youth had a very important role in effecting change because the world has only 10 years left to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by 193 countries, including the Philippines, during the UN General Assembly in September 2015.
The 17 SDGs were agreed upon to implement programs on the whole sustainability agenda—poverty, human development, the environment, and social justice —for the transformation of humanity and the planet by year 2030.
Royston Cabunag, director of the SM Cares Program for Children and Youth, said the attendance at the Summit was a testament to the commitment of today’s youth to bring about change in every aspect of their lives.
“This shows their passion and commitment to make a difference and all we have to do is harness that power to its fullest potential,” Cabunag said.
He said SM had always believed in the power of the youth not only because of their sheer number but the novelty and enthusiasm they bring to any task they do.
“The youth are our future and it is but right that we give them all the opportunity and the know-how to do something they love. Millennials want to make an impact and we are providing them the support to make that happen,” he said.
