International Youth Day 2026: Empowering Young People Through Creativity, Skills and Sustainable Livelihoods

On International Youth Day 2026, YWEN joined young people in Onyaanya for an engaging session focused on youth-led entrepreneurship, livelihood development and environmental sustainability. The activity brought together 21 young people, including 20 young women and 1 young man, creating a space for young people to learn practical skills while exploring how everyday challenges can be transformed into opportunities.

A key part of the engagement was a hands-on training on recycling waste materials to create necklaces. Through this activity, young people learned that waste can be transformed into useful and valuable products rather than simply being discarded. Beyond developing a practical skill, the activity encouraged creativity, entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility, while demonstrating how young people can contribute to sustainable solutions within their communities.

For YWEN, investing in young women goes beyond providing information on health and rights. It also means creating opportunities that strengthen their confidence, skills, independence and ability to participate meaningfully in their communities. Livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities are particularly important for young women in rural communities, where limited economic opportunities can affect their ability to exercise autonomy and make decisions about their lives.

The engagement also reflected the 2026 focus on youth-led technological entrepreneurship and the launch of the Learning Passport, highlighting the importance of equipping young people with skills that can support lifelong learning and future opportunities. While technology continues to transform the way young people learn and work, activities such as this demonstrate that innovation can also begin with simple, locally available materials and the creativity of young people themselves.

YWEN is grateful to Her Voice Fund and Y+ Global for their continued commitment to investing in and uplifting young people. Through continued support, partnerships and youth-led initiatives, we can create more opportunities for young people to learn, innovate, lead and build sustainable futures.

Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are innovators, creators and changemakers today.