A well-developed society comprises of developed people with a strong youth which holds the society and represents the future of a community, society and of the nation as well. If a country has better youth, the graph of development of that country with time will surely be increasing gradually. The society should emphasize on the youth for the sake of a better environment and for a better country too. Basically, youth is the spine of the society.

Youth empowerment has been introduced in the society long ago and in 21st century children and youth are coming forward in order to take actions and addressing various issues that have been rising in the society for a long time.

Objective of Youth Empowerment

Youth empowerment focuses on the improvement of life. Rather than focusing on the development of the youth, youth empowerment aims to bring a larger change in an individual’s capacity. Decision making is a major factor which is important in youth empowerment.

Every individual among the youth should be able to make their own decision having entitled to their beliefs and attitudes for the sake of a better society and also to bring changes in the lives of other people as well. There are numerous programs in the organizations, groups, local, state, national, international which mainly concentrate on the youth empowerment. Youth-led media, youth rights, youth councils, youth activism are the components of youth empowerment which merely focuses on the decision making.

Persons & Organizations Involved in Youth Empowerment

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest to be a noble prize winner in peace in recognition to her efforts on behalf of children’s rights. Started from Pakistan, now she has reached to millions of people through her organization to enhance the empowerment of women and their education. She has become the most prominent citizen of the country. She came out publicly against the prohibition on education of girls by the Pakistani Taliban’s. The whole world centered on her when she survived the assassination attempt at the age of 15.

Dera Sacha Sauda

Dera Sacha Sauda is an organization which is famous for their humanitarian works nationally and internationally. There are various youth empowering programs started by the chief Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan. Some of the youth empowerment programs are listed below.

Health Delight: Educating the youth generation to be health conscious by organizing different sports events and promoting mutual cooperation for a better society.

Spreading awareness on the menace of the AIDS and homosexuality by arranging seminars and distributing books in the schools and colleges regarding these, thus encouraging moral values among younger generation.

Dignified Humanism: Counselling the youth to avoid eve teasing i.e. to prevent unethical behavior.

Career Guide: To provide career counseling to school/college going students who are rather in dilemma to choose the appropriate career line according to their capabilities for a bright future.

Helping unemployed citizens by making them independent through self-employment or finding a job.

Young India Foundation

The Young India Foundation was established recently in January 2017 by Sudhanshu Kaushik. YIF is a nonpartisan national youth organization which primarily works on youth rights and their representation by recruiting and training young candidates for local level positions. It provides consultation and advocate for youth rights in India. The main ambition of this organization is to empower young people from the Panchayat to the Parliament and also providing opportunities for young representatives from different part of India to exchange ideas, experiences apart from coordinating program plans. Their main ambition is to solve India’s gerontocracy. Representation of the youth is the only solution that exists for this. India will not be on the path towards a developed nation only through a Smart City scheme from the HUD Ministry, but a lot of its burgeoning growth will occur through its panchayats, municipalities, assemblies and parliament.

Vidya

Vidya is an Indian NGO that focusses on the empowerment and transformation of the lives through the education. To optimize the potential of the children, youth and women by providing holistic education through schools and community programs. It was founded in 1985 by Ms. Rashmi Mishra. She started with her teaching a class of 5 girls at her home on the campus of IIT Delhi. Their dream is to see children of India’s getting quality education, to giving every youth the opportunity to succeed and women empowerment for the sake of better lives for themselves and social independence.

British Youth Council

It is a UK based charity that works to empower young people and promoting their interests. Run by young people for the motive of representing the views of young people to government and decision makers at a local, national, European and international level. It comprises of young people – and their charity aims to help other young people, whatever their background or barriers they face, to make the world a better place for us all. They also assist young people to represent themselves in the activities such as young people in the parliament events, having their voices to be heard by the different politicians and policy makers.

Various volunteering activities held by the young people are being supported by the council and numerous other opportunities for young people through its websites. They also motivate their volunteers and campaigners, decision makers and leaders to get involved in their communities locally, nationally and internationally to make a change in the society.

All in all, there may be organizations and communities working out there, but we have to ensure that we actually empower ourselves and the youth around us for these various programs to be effective at grassroots’ level.